Two die due to excessive heat at JO Galle Face rally

Two Joint Opposition (JO) supporters from Nivithigala and Kandy died due to excessive heat during the May Day rally at Galle Face Green today, police sources said.

They said the victims were identified as Victor Silva (80) from Kandy and W. Indrani (60) from Nivithigala.They were pronounced dead on admission to the National Hospital in Colombo, Police said.

Golden opportunity to grab power: JVP

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said today that it had got a golden opportunity to seize power due to the political vacuum created in the country with the deterioration of the three main political camps of President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake addressing its May Day Rally held at the BRC grounds in Colombo said that it would come as a broad peoples’ force to fill the political vacuum created in the country as the only force which could do that.

Girl slips down coconut tree

A girl, who climbed a coconut tree during a tree-climbing competition organized by the Colombo Girl Guides Association to mark its centenary, is said to have slipped down the tree and was warded at the Wathupitiwela Hospital after she was found to be suffering from shock. Hospital sources said apart from shock her health condition was normal. She represented the Northern Province at the competition held at Kirindiwela.

Govt Wants Sarath Fonseka as defense chief

The government said yesterday that it would disprove claims by a section of the Opposition that it did not have a backbone.

Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne, addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing in Colombo said that the Opposition grouping of parliamentarians led by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had accused the government of not having a back bone and being unable to control the increasing number of strikes in the country." We will show them how law and order can be maintained," Senaratne emphasised.

A plastic eating caterpillar found

Paris, France | AFP | Monday 4/24/2017: A moth caterpillar commonly bred to provide fish bait feasts on a notoriously resistant plastic, scientists reported Monday, raising hopes the creature can help manage the global problem of plastic-bag pollution.

"This discovery could be an important tool for helping to get rid of the polyethylene plastic waste accumulated in landfill sites and oceans," said Cambridge University professor Paolo Bombelli, co-author of a study published in the journal Current Biology.

Maithri sacks Janaka, Anura and Lohan

President Maithripala Sirisena's drive to appoint new electoral organizers, replacing those with Rajapaksa loyalties, yesterday led to the sacking of former Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon, MP Lohan Ratwatte and MP Anura Vidanagama.

Tennakoon was the electoral organizer for Dambulla and Ratwatte was the electoral organizer for Pathadumbara.

Range Bandara’s son’s vehicle in mishap

Four members of the same family, including a pregnant woman, were injured when the motorcycle they were travelling on, collided with a vehicle allegedly owned by the son of State Minister Palitha Range Banadara. Police sources said, the family had been rushed to the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital after their motorcycle collided with a cab in Anamaduwa, late last Monday (24).

Arrest warrant issued on Dilshan

The Colombo Magistrate Courts yesterday issued an arrest warrant against former cricket captain Tillakaratne Dilshan over a maintenance case.

Dilshan has failed to pay the monthly maintenance fee of Rs.20,000 and the insurance of his child from his previous marriage.