AVURUDU POLA TO FUND HOMES FOR CDF.

The second Avurudu Pola was organized at the Civil Defence Force headquarters in Bambalapitiya aimed at raising funds for building homes for 250 Civil Denfence Force personnel. The pola was declared open today (April 5) in an event which was attended by Ayoma Rajapaksa, President of the Seva Vanitha Unit and the wife of Denfese Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Director General of the Civil Defense Force Rear Admiral Ananda Peiris was also present at the pola which will close tomorrow (April 6).

MAN FOUND HACKED TO DEATH, BROTHER-IN-LAW ARRESTED

The body of a 33-year-old man who was hacked to death has been found inside a residence in Habudugala, Kegalle.
The victim’s brother-in-law has been arrested under suspicion of murdering the father of two.
Several drops of blood were found at the home of the victim’s wife’s parents following a search carried out using police dogs.
The Kegalle Magistrate had conducted an investigation at the scene, police said.

THREE HOSPITALIZED AFTER CONSUMING POISON

Three persons of the same family have been hospitalized after consuming poison in Dumkolawatta, Matale.
Police suspect that the husband had forced his wife and 4-year-old daughter to drink poison before consuming it himself.

They are currently being treated at the Matale Hospital.

NAVY ARRESTS 38 PERSONS ATTEMPTING TO SAIL TO AUSTRALIA

The Navy apprehended 38 persons illegally attempting to sail to Australia after the group had set sail from the Beruwala area yesterday (April 4).

The Galle Navy had arrested the group and had handed over the suspects to the Galle Harbour police.

Among the group of suspects were 11 women, police stated.

Investigations revealed that the suspects were from several areas including Mahabage, Ampara, Trincomalee, Vavuniya, Kilinochchi, Beruwala, Mullaitivu, Puttalam and Kalmunai.

Further investigations will be conducted by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).

WILL SUPPORT ANY PARTY SEEKING TO ABOLISH EXECUTIVE PRESIDENCY

The National Movement for Social Justice, led by Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero, today declared that in the next election it would support any party assisting in abolishing the Executive Presidency.
The Mahanayakes had met yesterday and decided that amendments should be made to the existing constitution to abolish the Executive Presidency, Ven. Sobitha Thero said.
Therefore other religious will also be informed of the amendments in the future along with representatives of political parties, trade unions and the masses, he said addressing a press briefing this morning.
Venerable Sobitha Thero stated that they expect to establish good governance and democracy through the amendments.
He pointed out that incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa had promised to abolish the Executive Presidency while the JVP and some members of the UNP have also pledged assistance for this purpose.
He stressed that the political leaders to criticize the executive presidency the most were former President Chandrika Bandaranaike, her mother Sirimavo Bandaranaike and President Rajapksa and that even Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa had recently called for abolishing it.
Sobitha Thero further said that as it is important to immediately abolish the executive presidency a discourse should be created within the society.
He stated that this movement will not operate to oppose a certain party or support another and that if no political parties comes forth to assist in this task, they will assist any party which pledges to abolish the executive presidency in the next election.

DRIVER, CONDUCTOR SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER YANGALMODARA ACCIDENT

The driver and conductor of the bus which was involved in the accident at the Yangalmodara railway crossing claiming the lives of 40 people, were sentenced to death by the Kurunegala High Court today.
A bus-train collision on April 25, 2005 at a level crossing at Yangalmodara, Alawwa killing 40 passengers and injured more than 35, one of the most tragic motor accidents in the history of the country.
The Attorney General had filed a case with 152 charges against driver and conductor of the bus which was involved accident.
High Court Judge Priyantha Fernando ruled that the accident was caused due to reckless driving, when the case was taken up today, and sentenced the driver and conductor to death.
A Colombo-bound private bus from Galkiriyagama collided with an inter-city express train running from Colombo to Kandy.
The bus was pulled by the train nearly 75 metres before bursting into flames. Thirty-five passengers of the bus reportedly died on the spot.

FIVE INJURED AFTER LORRIES COLLIDE

Five persons were injured and hospitalized following a head-on collision between two lorries in the Damana area in Ampara this morning.
Police said one of the lorries was transporting rice while the other was illegally transporting cattle.
The injured have been admitted to Ampara and Eragama hospitals.
Police said some of the cattle being transported had also suffered injuries.

END OF CONFLICT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SRI LANKA – PRANAB TELLS RANIL

The end of conflict is a good opportunity for Sri Lanka to ensure national reconciliation, President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday told visiting Sri Lankan Opposition and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe.

Wickremesinghe called on Mukherjee in New Delhi, a Rashtrapati Bhawan statement said.


“The President said India-Sri Lanka bilateral relationship is based on shared historical, cultural and ethnic ties as well as extensive people-to-people interaction. It has always been close and cordial. As a neighbour with thousands of years of close ties, India has a natural interest in Sri Lanka. People of India cannot remain untouched by developments in Sri Lanka.

“The President said India has always felt that the end of the conflict in Sri Lanka provided a unique opportunity to pursue lasting political settlement, acceptable to all communities. Sri Lanka must seize the opportunity for genuine national reconciliation and move ahead,” the statement quoted him as telling Wickremasighe.

Wickremesinghe warmly reciprocated the President’s words, the statement added, PTI reports.

2012 O/L best results

The Department of Examinations a short while ago released the names of the students who obtained the highest results in the G.C.E. Ordinary Level examination 2012.

                                                                                                                                                  While Dasun Jayasinghe of Colombo Royal College and Madushani ChaturikaKulatunga of Sanghamitta Vidyalaya in Galle secured equal marks, the Third position was obtained by Ayodya Gayathri de Alwis of the same Sanghamitta Vidyalaya. Ama Mandasmika Ranawaka of Colombo Vidyalaya came Fourth. She is the daughter of Minister Patali Champaka Ranawaka.   

5th place -- Sahan Lakshitha Wijewantha of Aloysius, Ratnapura
6th place -- Thepuli Umesha of Ratnavali Balika, Gampaha
7th place (3 students) -- Sanduni Iranga Vithanage of Devi Balika, Colombo
Dulmini Ratnayaka of Ratnavali Balika, Gampaha
Lahiru Randula Kularatna of Trinity College, Kandy
10th place (2 students) -- Meloni Nimesha de Almeida of Visakha Vidyalaya,
Colombo
Pipuni Tharushika of Sujatha Vidyalaya, Matara