New Zealand earthquake: Tsunami follows powerful tremor

A tsunami has hit after an earthquake struck New Zealands South Island. The US Geological Survey said the magnitude-7.8 quake hit just after midnight (11:02 GMT on Sunday), some 95km (59 miles) from Christchurch. 

The tsunami arrived in the north-eastern coast about two hours later. Officials said the first waves may not be the largest, with tsunami activity possible for several hours.

Residents were warned to head inland or for higher ground along the coast. A gauge at Kaikoura, 181 km (112 miles) north of Christchurch, measured a wave of two metres (6ft 5ins), according to Weatherwatch.co.nz

Sinhala Edition Click Here (Lanka Hot News)

After almost 68 years: Rare " Supermoon " tomorrow

Skywatchers will be able to gaze upon the biggest and brightest "supermoon" in almost 68 years, tomorrow (Monday).

The full moon on this day will feature the closest full moon until November 25, 2034.

On November 14, at perigee, the moon can come as close as 356,509 km to earth. On average, the distance from earth to the moon is 384,400 km. A perigee full moon can be as much as 14% larger and 30% brighter than the full moon at apogee.

The point when the moon is closest to the earth each month is called perigee and the point when it swings farthest away is called apogee.

When the full moon falls on the same day as the perigee, the moon in the sky appears larger and brighter than usual, creating a "Supermoon".

"There are three full moons in 2016 that meet the definition of a "Supermoon" – October, November and December. But the November 14 full moon is the most superior," the Colombo planetarium said.

This natural phenomenon can be observed around 7.30 pm on November 14.

Minimum traffic fine won’t be changed: Ravi

Responding to a demand  made by private bus operators to abolish the proposed minimum traffic fine of 2,500 rupees, Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake said that the proposal was made to save the lives of motorists as well as pedestrians and that the decision won’t be changed.

“Why are the private bus operators so much against the law” asked the minister. He noted that a section of bus operators making such a demand amounted to a tacit admission that they are frequent offenders.

Issuing a statement he said the government will not waver in its commitment to make Sri Lankan roads safer by instilling a greater sense of discipline and respect for traffic rules.

He said that lawlessness, including the rampant disregard for road rules, was one of the biggest problems in the country.

“Over 90 percent of the proposals received by the finance ministry in preparation of the budget called for discipline in all areas with strict adherence to the laws of the country,” he said.

The motive of those who oppose the fines appears to be that they want the government to give them a free license to kill at will and get away with highway murder.

The  traffic fines proposed in the budget  were not a revenue measure, but designed to be a deterrent to ensure that there will be no repetition of offences and there would be an improvement in the safety record of the roads. Therefore, the private bus drivers, or for that matter any other motorist, need not fear the new fines as long as they obey the rules and only those who habitually violate traffic rules will have to pay the fines.

According to police reports, so far this year, nearly 3,000 people have been killed in traffic accidents making Sri Lankan roads among the most dangerous in the world. This is a dubious honour that we must shed. This also surpassed the number of people killed annually in the decades-long separatist war.

Buddhist Monk threatens Grama Sevaka In Batticaloa

A Buddhist Monk from Batticaloa has threatened to kill a grama sevaka for filing several court cases against Sinhalese living in the district.

Using absolute filth in Sinhala, Ampitiye Sumana Thera, a monk from the Batticaloa Mangalarama said, “You are a bloody tiger. My blood boils when I see you. You are a bloody dog. You are a Tamil Grama Sevaka. You have been filing case after case against our Sinhalese. Stop filing cases against the Sinhalese.

Go and take action against what is happening in Wilpattu and Siripada. If you even send out one Sinhalese from their lands, I will end the rule by the Thambiyas and the Demalas. I will smash you. This is my last warning to all of you,” the monk said.

The monk said that in the past the tigers had killed the Sinhalese, now they are attacking them. He said that the only reason he was not harming the Grama Sevaka was because of the police uniform. During the incident, which occurred on a main road, several police officers including a senior police officer was also present.

The threats were made against the Grama Sevaka by the monk in front of the police officers. The senior police officer who was present at the time of the incident, tried to calm the monk and take him away to a jeep which was parked on the main road.

While walking away, the monk told the Grama Sevaka, “I will smash him till he dies.”

Sinhala  Edition Click Here (Lanka Hot News)

Water bill to go up by 30%

The water tariff will be increased by 30 per cent with effect from December 01, National Water Supply and Drainage Board Chairman K. A. Ansar said. 

He said the water tariff is usually revised every three years but there had been no revision of water tariff for the last four years. “We have not revised the water tariff in four years. We need to do so to ensure a quality service,” he said.

Mervyn Silva Uses Newspaper Advert To Congratulate Tump

While the government has shown cautious optimism at the election of Donald Trump as the next US President, Former Minister Mervyn Silva has congratulated him for his victory through a newspaper advertisement in Sinhalese newspapers.

Silva states through the advertisement that Trump's 'direct talk, direct action' style should be a good example to the Sri Lankan politicians.

He adds that this was the reason for Trump's victory.

Trump lost the popular vote but won the election by sweeping the Electoral College. His victories in key battle ground states assured his victory.

Investigation Over Incident involving disabled soldiers : PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament yesterday that if any policemen were found guilty of attacking disabled servicemen near the Presidential Secretariat last week they would be sacked from the service.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said so responding to a query raised by MEP leader Dinesh Gunawardena, who accused the government of setting police anti-riot squads on disabled military and police personnel demanding their pension rights.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe: "I will investigate this incident separately.

There was a discussion on the demands of ex-servicemen at the Ministry of Defence. We have to investigate to find how this incident took place after all the demands by the servicemen had been granted. We also have to find out how disabled bhikkus were present there. How did those bhikkus become disabled? Police personnel, if found guilty of harassing disabled protesters will be removed.

"I like to ask where these bhikkus were when General Sarath Fonseka was incarcerated. We’ll have to sack those

who jailed Fonseka."

MEP leader Gunawardena: Bhikkus visited Sarath Fonseka when he was in jail. How many times Ven Maduluwawe Sobhitha visited him? We ask the Prime Minister whether he would admit that it was wrong to assault disabled soldiers.

Prime Minister: Assaulting the disabled is wrong. It is also wrong to instigate the disabled and create disturbances. I did not talk of Ven Sobhitha Thera. I was talking of the bhikkus who were present there on that day when the incident occurred.  Ven Sobhitha Thera conducted a religious ceremony opposite the Dalada Maligawa. I can recall some people attempted create a division among the Maha Sangha’s of Malwatte Chapter.

NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa: Bhikkus can participate in events. Bhikkus even marched along with King Dutta Gamani when he went to war against King Elara. The Prime Minister should not talk as if he were unaware of facts. Members of Maha Sangha have always been with the war heroes. The problem is that we are having a prime minister who does not know about it.

Prime Minister Wickremesinghe: King Dutta Gamani never entered into a deal with Prabhakaran to ascend the throne of Magama.

Sinhala Edition Click Here (Lanka Hot News)

Student Who Hacked Website placed under probation

The 17-year-old schoolboy, who is facing charges in connection with alleged securing an unauthorised access into the President’s official website was yesterday ordered to be placed under the supervision of the probation officers for three-year period by Colombo Chief Magistrate. Chief Magistrate Gihan Pilapitiya made this order taking into consideration a request made by the Department of Probation and Child Care Services.

Accordingly, the 17-year-old schoolboy would be supervised by probation officers for three-year period with the consent of the parents.

Meanwhile, the Chief Magistrate ordered the CID to obtain an analytical report from Colombo University pertaining to the production items recovered from the suspects’ possession.

The schoolboy and other suspect Dulan Amarasinghe, 27, are currently out on bail.

The CID had alleged that the schoolboy residing in Kadugannawa area had intruded into the President’s official website www.president.gov.lk on August 25 after altering its original data.

A group calling itself the “Sri Lankan Youth” posted a statement in Sinhalese on the web page. The concerned statement says; “We are extremely displeased about the decision to hold GCE A/L in April since the Sinhala/Hindu New Year falls in between the exam dates.

Therefore, reconsider that decision. Furthermore, take care of the security of Sri Lankan websites. Or else, we will have to face a cyber war. If you cannot control the situation hold a Presidential Election. Stop the Prime Minister’s irresponsible work. Look more into the problems of the university students”.

Counsel informed Court that their clients did not have any criminal intention to commit this offence. They informed Court their clients just wanted to tell the fact that the President’s website was with weak security. They further submitted to Court that some parties are attempting to gain political advantages using this incident.

The CID alleged that the suspects had committed an offence which comes under section 3,4,5 and 6 of the Computer Crimes Act.

The CID said investigations have revealed about 37 websites were hacked by the suspects. “The President’s official website had been hacked using two IP address from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Police are investigating regarding a Bangladesh national who had connived with the two Sri Lankan suspects in hacking the President’s website,” the CID said.

Defense Counsel Susantha Dodawatta appeared on behalf of the schoolboy.