T-shirt with Prabhakaran’s picture in police custody

KANDY – A T-shirt with a picture of LTTE Prabhakaran and ‘Eelam’ map printed on it has been recovered from among imported textiles by a trader of the new market complex of Kandy on Saturday (13) night. The trader has handed over the T-shirt to Kandy police. 

The T-shirt was among used clothes imported from Singapore. The T-shirt is now in the custody of the Kandy police.

Elaine Thompson becomes new sprint queen

(AFP) Elaine Thompson stormed to victory in the women's 100m to usher in a new era for Jamaican sprinting as the eight-year Olympic reign of compatriot Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce came to an end.

Thompson, 24, got off to a flying start and quickly surged to the front to cross in 10.71sec, punching the air before embracing training partner Fraser-Pryce.

Tori Bowie of the United States took silver with 10.83sec while Fraser-Pryce claimed bronze in 10.86.

After Saturday's race, Thompson revealed she could never have dreamed of upstaging Fraser-Pryce when the Jamaican star landed her first Olympic 100m title in 2008.

"I look up to her so much but I never thought I'd be sitting here today," said Thompson.

"When I crossed the line and glanced across to see I was clear (I) didn't quite know how to celebrate," she added.

"There is a big screen back home in my community in Jamaica. I can't imagine what is happening there right now."

Fraser-Pryce, 29, had been hoping for a hat-trick of 100m titles after gold medals in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games.

But it was Thompson who confirmed herself as the standard-bearer of Jamaican women's sprinting with an imperious display.

"What I'm most happy about is that, the 100m title is staying in Jamaica," said Fraser-Pryce, who raced with her hair dyed in Jamaica's national colours.

"I'm on the podium with my training partner. I'm proud of Jamaica - just look at my hair," she added, paying tribute to Thompson.

"I am really happy for her. I've seen her work hard and it was her time. In 2008 it was my time, 2016 it is her time."

Fraser-Pryce revealed she had also been struggling with an injury. She finished her semi-final grimacing as she crossed the line.

"It was really difficult. I cried, because it was unbearable. I knew I had one more race to go and I just prayed to God," she said.

It has been a challenging season for Fraser-Pryce, who has struggled to shake off a toe injury which has troubled her throughout the year.

"By far, I would definitely say that this is my best championship ever, because I knew how hard I worked, I knew the pain and the sacrifices and the tears.

"I knew everything and despite everything I stuck to it. I kept my head in the game. I am really happy that I persevered."

Exploding out of the blocks, Thompson quickly edged clear of the field and the powerfully built runner never looked like relinquishing her grip on the contest.

Marie-Josee Ta Lou of Ivory Coast finished fourth while flying Dutchwoman Dafne Schippers, a strong favourite for the 200m, was fifth in 10.90sec.

Michelle-Lee Ahye of Trinidad and Tobago and English Gardner of the United States also dipped under 11 seconds with times of 10.92sec and 10.94 respectively.

It was the first time in track and field history that seven women have gone under 11 seconds in a single race.

Fraser-Pryce meanwhile refused to be drawn on her future beyond Rio.

"I'll be 33 in 2020 for Tokyo. Let's wait and see," she said.

I finished three -quarters of war

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga says that around three-quarters of Sri Lanka’s war against the LTTE was already finished while she was in power and that her successor Mahinda Rajapaksa only had to finish the remaining quarter.

“Some people say that the head of the previous government won the war and therefore the country should be handed over to him once again,” she said, addressing a gathering in Mirigama today (14).

Bandaranaike said that she finished three-quarters of the war and the UNP government before her also finished a portion while Rajapaksa was left with only a quarter to finish.

“He wouldn’t have been able to do it (win the war) if not for what we had accomplished. It wouldn’t be possible if not for the weapons we brought.”

She accused the former government led by Rajapaksa of importing substandard weapons and military equipment for three times the actual price.

The former President claimed that all six of the fighter aircraft brought down by former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa had crashed. “One of them crashed on the way.”

She said that they had spent three times the actual price of the aircraft and that investigations have been launched to figure out what happened to the remaining money. “That is how they engaged in war.”

Three men nabbed over lost motorcycles

A gang of three wanted in connection with the theft of motorcycles had been taken into custody, the Kahatuduwa Police said. 

The suspects had dismantled the motorcycles, sold the accessories and disposed of the junk by dumping them in the sewers in the Mattegoda housing scheme, the Police said.

The three suspects were residents of Mattegama and Kirigampamunuwa areas. During investigations two motorcycles were recovered, and a stock of accessories of the dismantled motorcycles from the houses of the suspects, the Police said. The chassis of two monocycles had been dumped in the sewers.

Geetha says another MP has Swiss citizenship

Actress-turned politician Geetha Kumarasinghe says that there is another MP who holds Swiss citizenship, other than her. Speaking to a newspaper, she has declined to name that MP, but only said he was an appointed MP. 

Meanwhile, Geetha has acted in a film after 15 years, according to reports. She has said that she would not act in tele dramas even if she was paid Rs. 10 million. Geetha also said she had first been invited to enter politics when whe was acting in films adapted from writings of the late Ranasinghe Premadasa.

Nadeesha Hemamali to tie the knot

Actress and director Nadeesha Hemamali and a former Sri Lankan A team cricketer Bathisha de Silva are to enter into wedlock in the near future. 

The happy couple is to tie the knot in mid Septemeber. Bathisha de Silva an oldboy of D. S. Senanayake College Colombo is also a former Sri Lanka A team player.

Michael Phelps ready to retire after losing

American swimming legend Michael Phelps, who was beaten by 21-year-old Joseph Schooling of Singapore, says he does not intend to compete in another Olympics once Rio 2016 is over.

The 31-year-old, who has won 22 Olympic gold medals, quit after London 2012 only to reverse that decision in 2014.

"I'm not going four more years and I'm standing by that," he insisted after finishing in a three-way tie for silver in the 100m butterfly final.

"I've been able to do everything I've ever put my mind to in the sport. I'm happy with how things finished."However, team-mate Ryan Lochte thinks Phelps will be in Tokyo in 2020.

"I guarantee he will be there,'' Lochte told NBC. "I think so. I really think so. So Michael, I'll see you in Tokyo."Phelps can add to his Olympic tally in the 4x100m medley relay at 03:04 BST on Sunday.

"I'm happy," added Phelps, who said he wanted to spend more time with newborn son Boomer and fiancee Nicole.

Phelps made his Olympic bow in 2000, winning his first gold in Athens in 2004. He has 27 Olympic medals in total, nine more than his closest rival. (BBC)

Youth claims he was assaulted by minister Range Bandara

A 22-year-old youth who has been admitted to the Chilaw General Hospital claims that he was assaulted by State Minister of Skill Development and Vocational Training, Palitha Range Bandara.

The incident had reportedly taken place at around midnight yesterday near the Pallama town.

The State Minister had handed over a youth to Pallama Police stating that the latter was found drunk and in the middle of the road while he was traveling in his official vehicle and therefore was arrested by his security officers.

A spokesman for the Pallama Police said that the youth handed over by the State Minister was admitted to the hospital for tests to determine whether he was under the influence of alcohol.

However, the hospitalized youth claims he was not drunk and that the State Minister Range Bandara assaulted him over a personal reason.