Elderly woman goes missing; Found 20-hours later clinging onto a tree in Dambulu Oya

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal to ban the importation, domestic manufacture, sale and local use of a series of plastic products with effect from 1st of June 2023.The decision comes based on a recommendation made by the Committee of Experts that was appointed to inquire into Single Use Plastic/ Polythene Control Proposals regarding the import, domestic production, sale and local use of 7 Single Use Plastic/Polythene products.The following plastic products will be banned from June• Single-use plastic drinking straws and stirrers • Single-use plastic plates, cups (except yoghurt cups), spoons, forks and knives, including yoghurt spoons made of plastic • Plastic garlands • String Hopper moulds made of plastic  

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Cabinet of Ministers on Monday (13) granted approval to import eggs to Sri Lanka from India.A Senior Government Minister said that permission was granted on the recommendation that the imported eggs do not contain bird flu.Accordingly, permission was granted to import eggs for a period of two months.The Senior Government Minister said the imported eggs will not be released to the local market, instead would be directly sent to industries that use eggs on mass scale.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The body of a woman was found floating on the Diyawanna Oya on Tuesday (14) morning.Police Spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa speaking to News 1st said that the body was discovered based on a tip-off.He said that police officers also located her footwear close by.The Welikada Police is conducting an investigation.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka has decided to create several new Elephant Corridors in an attempt to solve the Human Elephant Conflict.The Ministry of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation said that the elephant corridors will be constructed by clearing certain sections of forest lands that have been designated to be used to solve the Human Elephant Conflict.Wildlife Secretary R. M.

Kingsley Burnett, originally from Jamaica, shared photos and videos of his unexpected journey to the "Treasure State." "I saw the little plane with like nine passengers and wondered, "‘how is that going to get me to Australia?’" Burnett said.Burnett said he was planning on taking a cruise from Sydney harbor. "My story in a bottle ended with Carol Castellano at the American Airlines counter as she tried to send me to the correct place – unfortunately that turned out to be back to NYC after a night out in Billings.

PHOENIX, Ariz. - Just hours to go before game time and Birds fans are exploding with excitement."It’s anticipation. You just can’t wait," said Valerie Burns."It’s so much fun. We’ve got so much green out here.

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia police have released new video of a brutal assault and robbery that occurred over the weekend as they work to identify and locate four suspects. The incident happened on Sunday, Feb. 5 on the 1800 block of Addison Street. Police say the victim, a 30-year-old woman was walking down the block around 7:10 p.m.

representative for children and youth Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond of an honorary degree.In a Monday statement, the University of Regina said it had rescinded an honorary doctor of laws degree it bestowed on Turpel-Lafond in 2003.The school said the decision came following a request from the Indigenous Women’s Collective to revoke such degrees. Read more: More universities review honorary degrees awarded to Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond Read next: Part of the Sun breaks free and forms a strange vortex, baffling scientists In a statement in November, that group said the honours should be withdrawn because Turpel-Lafond “stole” the identity and lived experiences of Indigenous women.Last fall, a series of reports by the CBC raised a number of questions about Turpel-Lafond’s claims about her academic accomplishments and her claims of Indigenous ancestry.“In making this decision the University conducted consultations and considered the evidence that has emerged in the media with respect to Turpel-Lafond’s claims of Indigenous heritage/ancestry.

Philadelphia police are investigating the fatal shooting of a man in Oxford Circle on Wednesday night.  PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia police are investigating the fatal shooting of a man in Oxford Circle on Wednesday night. Minutes after 7:30 p.m., officers responded to the 5300 block of Sylvester Street for reports of a shooting. When officers arrived, they say they found a 32-year-old man on the front porch suffering a gunshot wound to the head. Medics pronounced the victim dead on scene, according to police. Chief Inspector Scott Small says four spent shell casings were found next to the victim's body, alongside two handguns.

The Indian film industry has lost an estimated 2.4 crore (24 million) audience to the pandemic, which they hope to rebuild in 2023, Ormax said About 12.2 crore (122 million) people in India watched at least one film in a theatre in the 12 months ended December 2022, against 14.6 crore (146 million) in the January to March 2020 period, just before the onset of the pandemic, according to a report by media consulting firm Ormax. Hence, the Indian film industry has lost an estimated 2.4 crore (24 million) audience to the pandemic, which they hope to rebuild in 2023, Ormax said. The report titled Sizing The Cinema: 2023, is based on research conducted among 15,000 Indian audiences across urban and rural India.

A dad-of-two who struggled with substance abuse and his mental health died while on unescorted leave from a mental health unit, an inquest has heard. Carl Thompson's mother told day one of an inquest into his death the whole tight-knit family are 'heartbroken' at his loss, and have many concerns over his care.

Russia‘s ambassador in Ottawa says Canada is a “very dangerous country” for Russians to visit. Read more: Canada slaps new sanctions on Russia targeting ‘disinformation actors’ Read next: Part of the Sun breaks free and forms a strange vortex, baffling scientists Oleg Stepanov says Canada keeps sanctioning people and claimed that Russians are regularly experiencing racism.In a Russian-language interview last Friday, Stepanov said, “I would not recommend (visiting Canada) for tourism, education or business.”However, he added that most Canadians treat Russians well, and Moscow’s travel advisory for Canada only warns of street gangs and a “rather harsh climate.”Stepanov says relations between Ottawa and Moscow are in a deep freeze and claimed that Russia has been unable to open a consulate in Vancouver.

Read more: Is your valentine a chatbot? Experts urge caution amid rising AI scams Read next: Part of the Sun breaks free and forms a strange vortex, baffling scientists Central Park in Burnaby, has become a matchmaking corner for parents, replicating a phenomenon seen in some cities in China.On the weekend before Valentine’s Day, there were 20 to 30 parents mingling. Organizer Terry Wang says in summer, there are more than 100.The park is where magic happens, says Wang, “if you come here believing in the power of love.”Wang said in a Mandarin interview that he has been running the “off-line dating site” since last summer.

shootings Monday night at Michigan State University, police said.On Twitter, university police said there appeared to be only one suspect, described as a “short male with a mask” and still at large.“We are still receiving multiple calls of an active shooter on campus,” police said.Police said victims were being transported to a local hospital. Read more: 1 dead, officer critically injured in shooting at Memphis library Read next: Part of the Sun breaks free and forms a strange vortex, baffling scientists Authorities ordered students and staff to shelter in place after a report of shots fired around Berkey Hall, an academic building, on the East Lansing campus.In an alert sent shortly after 8:30 p.m., campus police reported a “shots fired incident occurring on or near the East Lansing campus.” The alert advised students and staff to “Secure-in-Place immediately” and to monitor alert.msu.edu for information.By 10:15 p.m., police said Berkey, as well as nearby residence halls, were secured.Separately, police reported a shooting at IM East, a recreational center for students.Aedan Kelley, a junior who lives a half-mile (less than a kilometer) east of campus, said he locked his doors and covered his windows “just in case.” Sirens were constant, he said, and a helicopter hovered overhead.“It’s all very frightening,” Kelley said.

“15-minute city.”As governments become increasingly focused on climate change and sustainability, many urban planners are looking for ways to help city dwellers become less dependent on cars. One way to do this, they say, is by keeping the essentials for daily life — entertainment, shopping, green space, work and school — close to home.The term “15-minute city” is not a new one.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Japanese Government has decided to award a grant of USD 38 Million for an uninterrupted essential and emergency health service, said Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Bandula Gunawardena on Tuesday (14).Speaking to reporters during the weekly briefing to announce Cabinet Decision, the Minister said under Japan's Economic and Social Development Programme to Sri Lanka the funds will be made available for the purchase of fuel, especially diesel, which is of paramount importance to the country's health sector.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Three leading local car dealers have decided to recall a large number of vehicles over faulty airbags and for upgrades.The Commissioner General of the Department of Motor Traffic Nishantha Anurudhdha Weerasinghe told News 1st that discussions are underway with all other dealers to rectify the faulty airbag issue.Millions of vehicles ranging from a variety of makes and models across the world are being recalled due to faulty airbags made by a Japanese auto parts maker.The Commissioner General of the Department of Motor Traffic Nishantha Anurudhdha Weerasinghe told News 1st that vehicles that fall under the recall category are currently in use in Sri Lanka.He said that a special meeting will take place on Tuesday (14) with local car dealers to address the issue.It has now been confirmed that vehicles with defective airbags that can increase the risk of injury, fail to protect occupants, or cause a driver to crash have been sold across the world, and these include Sedans and SUBs.Although vehicles belonging to the relevant make and models have been recalled overseas to rectify the issue, in Sri Lanka, those vehicles continue to operate in the streets.The Commissioner General of the Department of Motor Traffic Nishantha Anurudhdha Weerasinghe said that local vehicle importers have decided to recall 47 vehicle models with faulty airbags to rectify the issue.These include the following:Honda: 33 Models from 9 vehicle types Mitsubishi: 8 Models from 3 vehicle types Toyota: 6 ModelsHowever, across the world, over 100 vehicle models have been recalled to rectify the airbag issue, and they include the following:Mazda: 7 vehicle categories Benz: 10 vehicle categories Mitsubishi: 6 vehicle categories Subaru: 5

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Cabinet of Ministers on Monday (13) approved a proposal submitted by President Ranil Wickremesinghe aimed at reducing the difficulties faced by the people and providing immediate relief in the face of the current economic situation.Accordingly, the Cabinet has approved a measure to provide 10 kg of rice to 02 million low-income families each in March and April. This will provide immediate relief to families in need and help improve their overall well-being.It has also been decided that the gratuity arrears owed to 18,000 retired government servants will be paid out in instalments using liquid cash.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka has announced a certified price for paddy purchasing during the Maha Cultivation Season.Agriculture Secretary Gunadasa Amarasekera speaking to News 1st said that the Finance Ministry has issued the relevant circular for this purpose.Accordingly, a kilogram of paddy with moisture will be purchased for Rs. 88/- and a kilogram of dry paddy will be purchased for Rs.

PHILADELPHIA - A Philadelphia City Councilmember went door-to-door Monday to help reassure safety in the community following a vicious ambush assault and robbery that was caught on camera.Police say a 30-year-old woman was walking down Addison Street around 7:10 p.m. when she was approached from behind by four male suspects believed to be in their teens.Surveillance video of the incident shows one of the suspects running up behind the woman at a high rate of speed, hitting her in the back, knocking her to the ground. The four suspects then started to kick and stomp on the woman while demanding she hand over her belongings. Police say the suspects took her belongings and ran off.

EAST LANSING, Mich. (FOX 2) - An active shooter is still on the loose at Michigan State University after multiple shootings Monday night in East Lansing.People on and near the campus should shelter in place while police look for the active shooter.

police reported a shooting Monday night shares what the scene is like for his loved ones. Speaking with Fox TV Stations, Jordan Robinson says received an alert from MSUPD about the shooting on his phone."I'm fearing right now. Nobody knows what's going on," Robinson said.Watch the full interview above to get more details.Police are investigating after shots were fired on the Michigan State University campus Monday night.According to MSU police, shots were fired near Berkey Hall, which is on the northern boundary of campus in East Lansing.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - America’s most beloved, iconic dinosaur is back. Mattel announced Monday it will relaunch the Barney franchise — made popular in the early 1990s — with a revitalization of the brand. The global toy company said it will develop television, film, music and YouTube content, along with a large range of kids’ products including toys, books, clothing, and more. Apparel and accessories for adult fans, featuring the classic Barney, are also in the works. "Barney’s message of love and kindness has stood the test of time," Josh Silverman, Mattel’s chief franchise officer and global head of consumer products, said in a statement.

LOS ANGELES - Newly single? A recent study has revealed the most popular breakup songs of the last five years. The study, conducted by Learn Divorce Law, analyzed nearly 100 songs that can be defined as "breakup songs" from 2018 to 2023 and summed the Spotify streams and YouTube views to discover which ones were the most popular. "Break up songs have been one of the pillars of popular music for the longest time, and we could confidently say that some of the most popular songs of the last decade are about broken hearts," a spokesperson for the company shared in a statement. From Olivia Rodrigo to Ariana Grande to Billie Eilish, here is a list of the top 10 heartbreak anthems. LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 11: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) : Lewis Capaldi performs live on stage during The BRIT Awards 2023 at The O2 Arena on February 11, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage) "Someone You Loved" — a 2019 hit by Lewis Capaldi — topped the breakup charts, and according to the study, the song had over 3.2 billion plays between Spotify and YouTube. "This list highlights the most popular of the last five years, and most of these are also among the most popular songs of the year they were released in, "Someone You Loved" being a perfect example of this," the spokesperson continued.The song peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart and became Capaldi’s first number one single, spending seven consecutive weeks atop the chart and was the best-selling single of 2019 in the UK, according to Learn Divorce Law.

EAST LANSING, Mich. (FOX 2) - Police are investigating after shots were fired on the Michigan State University campus Monday night.According to MSU, shots were fired inside Berkey Hall at 8:18 p.m, which is on the northern boundary of campus in East Lansing. Police believed the shooter was on foot as of 9:20 p.m.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The National Council informed officials of the Ceylon Electricity Board and the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka hold discussions before the Public Utilities Commission takes the final decision on the 15th of February regarding the electricity tariff.Accordingly, the officials of both parties agreed to meet this afternoon (13) for the purpose of discussing this matter.The Chairman of the Electricity Board said that if the required percentage is not allowed to be increased in a background where the Electricity Board is demanding a 60% increase in electricity tariffs, it will have to face a serious crisis. Accordingly, he pointed out that due to the lack of money even to import coal in the future, there is a risk for longer power cuts.The officials of the Public Utilities Commission said that arrangements are being made to announce the final decision on the electricity increase on the 15th of February.

(Reuters) – Officials from China, India, Saudi Arabia and Group of Seven nations will participate in a first virtual meeting of a new sovereign debt roundtable on Friday, the International Monetary Fund said on Monday, confirming an earlier Reuters report.The roundtable will also include officials from countries that have requested debt treatments under the Group of 20 common framework – Ethiopia, Zambia and Ghana – as well as middle-income countries such as Sri Lanka, Suriname and Ecuador, which have faced their own debt crises, three sources had earlier said.The meeting will be co-chaired by the IMF, the World Bank and India, the current leader of the Group of 20, and comes a week before G20 finance officials are due to gather in Bengaluru, India, from Feb. 23-25.

Ohio, just south of Lake Erie and approximately 400 kilometres (250 miles) from the Canada-U.S. border, played host to a nightmarish scenario earlier this month when a train crashed and exploded, spewing toxic chemicals into the environment.Residents who returned to the town of East Palestine after evacuation orders were lifted reported strange odours and dead animals, leaving some locals questioning if it truly is safe to return home.

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia police are investigating a shooting that left a man dead near Temple University's campus Monday night.Around 6:20 p.m., police responded to the 1200 block of West Venago Street for reports that someone had been shot.When officers arrived, they found a 23-year-old in the driver's seat of a crashed car who had been shot two times in the arm, two times in the chest, and one time in the back. Police say the victim was transported to Temple Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 6:36 p.m. No weapons were recovered, and no arrests were immediately reported, according to police. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Philadelphia Police Department. 

PHILADELPHIA - Police are searching for several people who were filmed flipping over a vehicle when a rowdy crowd of Eagles fans gathered on a North Philadelphia street hours before the Super Bowl kicked off.The Philadelphia Police Department shared images of nine people who they believe helped overturn someone's vehicle on the 1700 block of Arlington Street Sunday afternoon. "People started getting on top of the car to make space and make a scene. One thing led to the next and someone was doing backflips on the hood, cracked the windshield.

Cardi B and Offset share the love this Valentine’s Day with McDonald’s first-ever duo meal. CHICAGO - Rappers Cardi B and Offset are sharing their love for Valentine's Day by launching their own McDonald's meal for two. It's the first-ever celebrity duo meal for the fast-food chain. The meal can be shared with a plus-one, best friend or anyone else. The Cardi B meal includes a  cheeseburger with BBQ sauce and a large Coca-Cola.

COVID and Covishield (AstraZeneca vaccine for Covid-19) are associated with increasing clotting tendency leading to occlusion of arteries or veins. Dr Sharath Reddy Annam is Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, Director of Cath Lab, Director of CTO and Complex Coronary interventions, TAVR & Structural Heart interventions, Medicover Hospitals According to Dr Sharath, reasons for Increase in heart stroke after Covid-19 is not completely understood but it is hypothesized due to pleotropic effectsof increased inflammation, thrombosis and also endothelial damage.

matter in May 2021. The 90-day review was meant to push American intelligence agencies to collect more information and review what they already had. Former State Department officials under President Donald Trump had publicly pushed for further investigation into virus origins, as had scientists and the World Health Organization.

PHILADELPHIA - Fans lined a chain link fence at Philadelphia International Airport to cheer for Eagles players and coaches as they deplaned from Phoenix following a deflating Super Bowl loss.The team boarded a fleet of busses that took them to the NovaCare Center in South Philadelphia where they were greeted by even more screaming fans as they departed in their personal cars.Kansas City won its second Super Bowl in four years by beating the Eagles 38-35 on Sunday in Glendale, Arizona. It was an exciting back-and-forth game that saw the Chiefs claw back from a 10-point halftime deficit.One of the few gripes for football fans — particularly Eagles fans — was the anticlimactic ending.The Chiefs were driving and faced third-and-8 at the Eagles 15-yard line with 1:54 remaining when Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw incomplete to JuJu Smith-Schuster.

WASHINGTON - Natural disasters forced nearly 3.4 million people in the United States to leave their homes in 2022, new data reveals.According to U.S. Census Bureau data collected earlier this year, the majority of Americans were displaced by hurricanes, floods, fires and tornadoes. The count is based on more than 68,000 responses it recieved as part of the Household Pulse Survey conducted last month.

Queen Camilla is down for the count.

Wynonna Judd gave fans cause for concern during a concert in Dayton on Friday, when she had to pause the show after suddenly getting dizzy mid-song.In video taken during the incident, Judd can be seen telling the audience, «Hang on a second. I am really dizzy. Could somebody come up here please?»As a crew member came up to help steady her, Judd explained, «I'm really dehydrated and I'm having a hard time, so hang on a second... This has never happened before.»After considering whether or not to leave the stage, Judd opted to finish the song, telling the audience, «If I faint, just take a lot of pictures!»Judd carried on for the rest of the tune, and eventually decided to perform while seated on a stool.

MANASQUAN, N.J. - Officials in New Jersey are investigating the death of another whale after they say one washed up on Manasquan's inlet beach on Monday. Police say they are unsure of what kind of whale it is, but they guess it's a calf, roughly 65 feet long. Authorities say they are pulling the whale out to more shallow water with hopes it doesn't get caught in the rocks. They say they do not have an exact time frame of when the whale will be removed, but it is expected that it will remain on the beach until Tuesday.The Marine Mammal Stranding Center, located in Brigantine, is volunteering with the investigation of the whale death, type, and cause of its arrival to shore. Police say they will not have any more information until the volunteers finish their investigation.

PHILADELPHIA - Former Philadelphia Eagles safety and team captain Chris Maragos was awarded over $40M in a medical malpractice lawsuit on Monday. It took a jury less than three hours of deliberations to decide to award Maragos $43.5M. They ruled that the surgeon, James Bradley and Rothman Orthopedic, committed "medical negligence" in caring for his knee surgery which lead to and early end to Maragos career. "I hope this decision sends a message to teams' medical staffs that players are people, not just contracts," Margos, now 36, said in a statement. "This case and this jury may have changed the course of history by now forcing these team doctors and trainers to stop worrying about when a player might return to play. and start thinking about the next 50 years of a player’s life."Maragos played eight seasons in the NFL from 2010-2017, including four years in Philadelphia.

Britain's Queen Consort Camilla, the wife of King Charles III, has tested positive for coronavirus, Buckingham Palace said Monday, the second time she has caught the disease. "After suffering the symptoms of a cold, Her Majesty The Queen Consort has tested positive for the Covid virus," said a statement from the palace.

Read more: COVID-19 wastewater numbers increase in Saskatoon, Prince Albert Read next: How rising food prices make eating healthy a big-time struggle for some Canadians “This level of the viral RNA load indicates that SARS-CoV-2 infection in Saskatoon needs continuous monitoring,” the report read.In Prince Albert, levels decreased by 72.4 per cent in the period leading up to Feb. 5, 2023.

Colombo (News 1st) – Watch Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, founder Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), in conversation with Faraz Shuaketaly.

Colombo (News 1st) – The Presidential Secretariat says President Ranil Wickremesinghe has not yet accepted the resignation letter sent by P.S.M. Charles, as a member of the Election Commission.When inquired by News 1st, a senior official at the Presidential Secretariat confirmed the matter.Recent media reports stated that P.S.M.

Over 200 schools will receive funding from Australia via the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to build entrepreneurial school gardens in the North, Central and Uva Provinces to support nutritional security among children.The entrepreneurial school gardens programme, implemented as part of a project funded by the Australian government totalling over USD 2.3 million, is aimed at improving the food and nutritional security of groups most affected by the ongoing economic crisis, particularly women and children.The programme features a discovery-based learning approach for over 100,000 secondary school students from grades 8 – 12, where they will be educated on the capacity to transform their school gardens into sources of nutritious produce that will facilitate diverse and healthy eating habits and encourage students to apply entrepreneurial thinking into agriculture. 505 school teachers from the three provinces were also trained on the discovery-based learning methodology as part of the programme to improve skills in food security, nutrition, agriculture and entrepreneurship.The Agriculture club in each school will be empowered to operate as a core programme partner that will oversee the coordination and navigation of the programme alongside school officials.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's Cabinet Spokesperson announced that the daily power outages will be limited to two-hours.Speaking at the media briefing to elaborate on cabinet decisions Minister Bandula Gunawardena noted that the two-hour power outage will only take place after 4 PM during the period of the G. C. E.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The National Election Commission has addressed a letter to the Finance Ministry requesting a clarification on whether funds can be provided for the local government election.The Chairman of the National Election Commission in the letter had sought a clarification from the Treasury Secretary.The cost for the Local Government Election is estimated at Rs. 10 Billion.The National Election Commission said that the Treasury Secretary is expected to provide a detailed response on whether the funds will be made available.Dr.

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A special party leaders meeting was held in parliament including the President. The Opposition Leader and  Anura Kumara Dissanayake boycotted.