School Girl Bites Off Man's Tongue at Mawathagama

A 15-year-old schoolgirl who had bitten off a part of the tongue of a youth who attempted to molest her visited the Mawathagama police with her parents and handed over the half inch piece of the tongue in a bottle. 

Police immediatly dispatched it to the Mawathagama District Hospital to be rejoined if possible. The schoolgirl residing at Pusseliyedda area was a year-ten student of a school in the area. 

Investigations revealed that her parents had been away from home when the suspect had forcibly entered the house and attempted to take liberties with her. However when he kissed her she had bitten his tongue severing it in the scuffle. 

The youth had fled from the scene when he found his tongue seriously injured. Police investigations led to the arrest of a youth living in the area on suspicion but found nothing wrong with his tongue released him. Mawathagama Police OIC Lalith Sandasiri Bandara is conducting further investigations and hopes to arrest the absconding suspect soon.

Committee recommends severe disciplinary action against two MPs

The report that was presented to the Speaker of the House regarding yesterday’s clash in Parliament has recommend severe disciplinary action be taken against parliamentarians Palitha Thewarapperum (UNP) and Prasana Ranaweera (UPFA).

Yesterday (3), pandemonium broke out in Parliament when Joint Opposition and government members exchanged blows in the Well of the House around 1.30 p.m. causing injuries to several MPs and one of them being admitted to the Sri Jayawardenapura Hospital.

Parliamentary sources revealed that UNP Kegalle District MP Sandith Samarasinghe was admitted to hospital while UPFA Gampaha district MP Prasanna Ranaweera too suffered injuries.

SLFP To Take Action Against MPs Involved In Clash

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party will take strict action against MPs who were involved in the clash in Parliament yesterday, party Treasurer S.B. Dissanayake said.

Minister Dissanayake told media today that the party has the right to take disciplinary action against such erring MPs.

The MPs could face possible expulsion from the party.

Meanwhile, a report on the clash between MPs was handed over to the Speaker a short while ago by Deputy Speaker Thilanga Sumathipala and Deputy Chairman of the Committees Selvam Adaikkalanathan.

The Speaker called for the report yesterday following the clash between 'Joint Opposition' MPs and the UNP MPs. One UNP MP was admitted to hospital following the clash.

The clash occurred when Minister of Regional Development Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka spoke on the reduction of security to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The 'Joint Opposition' meanwhile said that the clash was started by Deputy Minister Palitha Thewarapperuma who allegedly attacked UPFA MP Prasanna Ranaweera.

Offensive Google Play App let users torture Mahinda

An android game named “Torture Him” available at the Google Play Store has garnered severe criticism from many sectors for enabling its players to torture a character based on former president Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The android game depicts a caricature of current parliamentarian Mahinda Rajapaksa and lets its users torture the character using shoes, syringes, electricity, a noose and other torture devices.

While over 1000 users have down voted the android game giving it a single star, over 500 users have ranked to between 2 -5 stars. According to stats provided by Google Play Store the app had been updated on January 10, 2016, while approximately 50,000 - 100,000 users have installed the game in their devices.

Social media post too can be seen circulating creating awareness regarding this application and requesting users to report and down vote the application. Many social media users have described the android game as vile, unethical and offensive. Attempts to contact the publishers of the game was unsuccessful.

UNP MP Sandith Samarasinghe Hospitalized Following Brawl In Parliament

Speaker Karu Jayasuriya adjourned Parliament until tomorrow and called for a report from the Deputy Speaker and the Deputy Chairman of Committees in connection with the tense situation which had occurred at the Parliament on Tuesday. 

He also informed Parliament that suitable action would be instigated against the MPs involved in the incident.   Parliament proceedings were initially suspended for five minutes due to the tense situation within the chambers which ended in fisticuffs between two groups of MPs.

 Afterwards the Speaker adjourned Parliament till tomorrow (4) citing the inability to continue with proceedings amidst such incidents.  

Cabinet Minister for Regional Development Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka was delivering a statement regarding the decision to replace the military security of the former President with police personnel when certain opposition MPs raised objections and a brawl ensued.  

UNP Kegalle District MP Sandith Samarasinghe has been hospitalised following the incident. It has been reported that he was injured as a result of the altercation between government and opposition MPs.  Some 50 army personnel assigned for the security detail of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa were withdrawn yesterday. 

They were replaced by trained police personnel form the VIP security unit. 

Those who attended the Kirillapona May day rally to be punished

The Central Committee of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party is to call a meeting this week to discuss action to be taken on SLFP members who did not participate in their May Day rally held in Galle, SLFP General Secretary and Agriculture Minister Duminda Dissanayake said.

Organising committee members will submit a full report at the meeting on participation and other contributions made by SLFP members.

The committee will decide on the course of action to be taken against those who boycotted the event based on the report, the minister said.

“We cannot take action about any other rally that was held that day, our goal was for all the members to work together to make the SLFP May Day rally a success.

We will have to decide on what action is to be taken against those who did not contribute based on the report submitted by the people,” Dissanayake said.

United People’s Freedom Alliance General Secretary and senior SLFP member Mahinda Amaraweera highlighted that neither the President nor any other single SLFP member would take any decision regarding the issue without a proper consultation process with the SLFP central committee.

Most Ven. Seruwila Saranakiththi Thera passes away

The Anunayake of the Seruwila Saranakiththi Kalyani Sect and Chief Incumbent of the Mangala Raja Maha Viharaya in Seruwila, the Most Venerable Seruwila Saranakiththi Thera has passed away.

The mortal remains of the Nayaka Thera, who passed away at a private hospital on Monday, May 2., are to be brought to the Seruwila Raja Maha Viharaya. The Nayaka Thera who also held the positions of Chief Incumbent at the Jayasumanaramaya in Trincomalee and the Uthurugiri Viharaya in Muttur, was 76-years-old at the time of his passing.

The Most Venerable Seruwila Saranakiththi Thera is remembered to this day, for his bold action to commence a hunger strike when the LTTE closed the Mavil Aru anicut.

The Nayaka Thera who rendered a yeoman service to protecting Buddhist heritage in the North and East, was ordained in 1960, and served the Sasana for 56 years.

The Funeral Committee will meet after the mortal remains are brought to the Seruwila Raja Maha Viharaya, to decide when the final rites will be observed.

Chief Incumbent Arrested For Cutting Down Sacred Bo Tree

The Chief Incumbent of the Divurumpola Temple in Nigathalawa, Welimada, was arrested by police yesterday for ordering the cutting down of the sacred Bodhi Tree at the temple for wood.

Two people who cut down the tree were also arrested while another individual is to be arrested.

Police protection had to be given to the temple following a tense situation which occurred yesterday at the temple when villagers gathered there to protest at the action of the Chief Incumbent.

According to legend, the Bodhi Tree was located at the site where Sita had jumped into the fire to prove her chastity.