Ban on selling fags near schools

Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne will soon introduce a ban on the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products within 500 metres of school premises with the objective of discouraging cigarette consumption amongst school children.

A Cabinet Paper to give effect to this ban has been submitted by him for approval.

Modi confirms SL visit

Indian PM Narendra Modi has confirmed his participation at the UN Vesak Day celebrations to be held in Colombo from 12-14 May, informed sources said.

Modi, who is to be the Chief Guest at the celebrations, to be held at the BMICH, is also slated to hold bilateral talks with both President Maithripala Sirisena and PM Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Gayle first to hit 10,000 Twenty20 runs

Chris Gayle has become the first batsman to accumulate 10,000 Twenty20 runs, going past the milestone during a match-winning blitz in the Indian Premier League.

Swashbuckling West Indian Gayle, 37, who plies his trade across the world’s Twenty20 leagues, smashed 77 off 38 balls with five fours and seven sixes to lead Royal Challengers Bangalore to a 21-run win over Gujarat Lions in Rajkot on Tuesday.

Murali to be inducted into ICC Hall of Fame

Legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan will be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame during the Champions Trophy tournament in England, SLC announced yesterday.

Murali became the first Sri Lankan to be voted into the ICC Hall of Fame last year and will be formally inducted in June.

Piliyandala gets the rubbish

The area around the Karadiyana dump site was yesterday placed under Police protection following a Court order to permit the transport of Colombo's garbage to Karadiyana.

The Kesbewa Magistrate's Court granted permission to transport Colombo's garbage to the Karadiyana garbage dump in Piliyandala, following a request made by the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC).

Committee to probe low quality coffins

Minister of Disaster Management Anura Priyadarshana Yapa says a probe is underway to ascertain the reasons behind the supply of sub-standard coffins to bury 14 persons who died in last Saturday's Meethotamulla garbage dump tragedy.

He said a committee of officials from his Ministry was sent to Kolonnawa and Meethotamulla specifically, to carry out the probe.

Meethotamulla Victims reject Govt Compensation

Victims of the Meethotamulla garbage dump collapse yesterday rejected government's offer of compensation in an amount of Rs 100,000 and an additional sum of Rs 2.5 million for construction of a new house. They have insisted that they will not budge from the site till such time as the government is prepared to provide them with the precise market value of the houses destroyed in addition to compensation for value of land lost in the tragedy.

Newborn abandoned

A woman, who had abandoned her newborn infant, was arrested by the Madampe Police in Galmuruwa.Police said that the Madampe Police had received information that an infant was abandoned in the forest near the Kadupitiya Oya in Galmuruwa.

The Police immediately rushed to the scene and with the aid of the residents of the area, admitted the infant to the Galmuruwa Hospital.The infant's 37-year-old mother was arrested and admitted to the Chilaw Hospital where she is currently receiving treatment. Meanwhile, the Madampe Police are conducting further investigations.