Killer wild elephant captured in Wellawaya

A wild elephant roaming in Wellawaya and the suburbs who killed a number of persons and damaged properties, was captured by a team of wildlife officials attached to Southern Province Wildlife Department.

A Wildlife Conservation Department official said the elephant who would roam in Hambegamuwa, Balaharuwa, Unakanda, Weherayaya, Ethiliwewa and Siripura areas was caught in a forest in Balaharuwa.

The elephant has killed over 12 persons.

Twenty one wildlife officers participated in the operation. The elephant was handed over to the Horowupathana Elephant Orphanage.

Lottery Jackpot winner now a drug addict arrested

A lottery winner from Anuradhapura has become a drug addict and a criminal just three years after raking in Rs. 45 million from a lottery jackpot. The jackpot winner arrested by Police at Anuradhapura town yesterday for possessing 200 milligrams of heroin is currently languishing in prison.

The story of the lottery winner who was selling flowers at the Sri Maha Bodhi premises until his lucky break, hit headlines at the time.

The person who led a lavish life since then had become a drug addict and according to Police has also wasted most of the money he won.

He had been arrested by the Police on two previous occasions as well for the same offence.

MP Prasanna Ranatunga, wife granted bail by High Court

The Colombo High Court today (08) granted bail to MP Prasanna Ranatunga and his wife in connection with a case filed against them over an alleged financial malpractice connected to a land deal. 

Ranatunga has been accused of obtaining a sum of Rs 64 million to fill and develop a land in the Wellampitiya area as well as to remove the unauthorized occupants of the property. 

The businessman, who claims to have made the payment to Ranatunga, has lodged a complaint with the Police Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) alleging that the sum has been deposited into a bank account belonging to the Chief Minister’s wife.     The FCID had previously questioned the Chief Minister’s wife for nearly 6 hours regarding the complaint as well.

Mattala Airport duty free shops closed

The troubled Mahinda Rajapaksa International Airport at Mattala has received another blow with the complete closure of the duty free shops located within its premises since June 1.

Airport sources said that shops have remained closed since 1 June and the owners have already removed the goods from their stores.

The air traffic to Mattala has now dwindled to a trickle and only two charter flights use the MRIA at present.

However, these two airlines have flights to MRIA, carrying tourists on an almost daily basis and the passengers have been inconvenienced duty to the lack of duty-free shopping opportunities.3.

Can't stay with government if Gotabaya comes in

Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga on Sunday said she could not stay in the government if the Sri Lanka Freedom Party was trying to bring Gotabaya into power.

 “We brought this government in order to wipe out the looting of the country. If the SLFP is trying to bring Goatabayas into power we cannot stay in the government any longer,” the former President said addressing an event in Attanagalle, where she distributed flood relief items to those who affected by the recent floods in the area. 

She also said she was with her children abroad when the country had to face the flood situation. “I am here now to see what I can do for the affected people. I got a large number of telephone calls when I was abroad asking whether I was paralyzed. 

A website had carried a story saying I was paralyzed. Whoever the persons who carried the story should be asked whether I was paralyzed or not,” she added. (S.U.W.K.Jayawardane-Watupitiwala)

Namal Rajapaksa's bank accounts

The Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) yesterday (6) submitted a report to the Colombo Magistrate's Court, on two bank accounts belonging to Hambantota District, United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA), Parliamentarian, Namal Rajapaksa.The FCID launched an investigation, following a complaint of money laundering, lodged by the Voice Against Corruption organisation, against the eldest son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Thus, on a request made by the FCID, the Colombo Magistrates' Court, on 31 March, 2016 granted approval to investigate accounts belonging to two companies of MP Namal Rajapaksa.

The complaint, lodged by JVP Provincial Councillor Wasantha Samarasinghe, had charged that a company, allegedly headed by MP Rajapaksa, had purchased shares of another company using money obtained through illicit methods, in violation of the Money Laundering Act.

President Condolences to dead soldier’s loved ones

President Maithripala Sirisena has directed all authorities to take whatever swift action deemed necessary for the safety of residents of the area Salawa,  Kosgama following the fire at the armoury of the Salawa Army Camp.

Furthermore, President Sirisena expressed his condolences via a twitter post to the loved ones of the soldier who succumbed to injuries on Sunday (5) night's fire at the Kosgama camp.

The tweet read: "My condolences to the loved ones of the brave soldier who succumbed to injuries in last night's fire at Kosgama camp."

The President further tweeted: "I have requested all authorities to take all immediate actions necessary for the safety of the residents of the area."

Accordingly, President Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe have instructed the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to conduct an investigation into the fire and subsequent explosions at the Kosgama Salawa Army Camp. Minister Sagala Ratnayake said investigations have already commenced.

State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene says an extensive investigation will commence to determine the cause of fire.

The fire that broke out at the armoury of the Kosgama Salawa Army Camp was doused yesterday (6) morning. However, another fire was reported soon after and it too was immediately controlled according to authorities.

The fire that broke out around 5:45 on Sunday (6) evening spread to the armoury resulting in a number of explosions. One solider succumbed to his injuries at the Homagama Hospital.

Meanwhile, eight military personnel and 40 civilians have been hospitalized with injuries and breathing difficulties.

Probe on Salawa Army camp disaster

Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Eng. Karunasena Hettiarachchi yesterday said that he would appoint a tri-forces preliminary investigation committee to probe the Sunday’s explosions and fire at an ammunition dump in the Salawa Army camp in Kosgama.

In addition to the probe by the committee comprising senior officers of the tri-forces, the CID would conduct a separate investigation, he told.

The Government Analyst would also conduct an investigation to find the cause of the initial

explosion and there would be a magisterial inquiry, too, Karunaratne said, adding that the police had been instructed to assist in investigations.

The decision to appoint a tri-forces preliminary investigation committee had been taken at the Security Council meeting held yesterday with President Maithripala Sirisena presiding, Hettiarachchi said.

The Defence Secretary said that the President had ordered stepped up security at armouries and explosive stores to avoid the recurrence of similar calamities in the future.

The President had issued orders that immediate relief should be provided to the affected residents in the area and their houses and properties be restored by the government agencies.

The Defence Secretary said that the Security Council did not rule out the possibility of sabotage. He said that the investigators were not in a position to state categorically the causes, impact of the explosion and estimates of the damage yet. Those details would be provided as soon as the investigations were completed, he added.