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TRENTON, N.J. - A 34-year-old Burlington County has been shot and killed in Trenton, Mercer County officials said.Trenton police responded to a report of a shooting Sunday morning, just after 9 a.m., near Prospect Street and West Hanover Avenue.Officers found the 34-year-old woman, identified as Stephanie Vil, of Burlington, suffering with a gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead at the scene.MORE HEADLINES:Trenton police are investigating, but say no arrests have been made.

Manatū Hauora has welcomed its latest commissioned research into the impacts of COVID-19. The Ngā Kawekawe o Mate Korona Impacts of COVID-19 report, compiled by Te Hikuwai Rangahau Hauora – Health Services Research Centre at Victoria University, focuses on Māori, Pacific peoples, people with lived experience of disability and those with Long COVID.

The COVID-19 Vaccine Independent Safety Monitoring Board (the Board) has notified Te Whatu Ora of a fourth death in New Zealand in which a link to the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine (Comirnaty) could not be excluded. 

COLOMBO (News 1st); Harsha Ilukpitiya, the Controller General of the Immigration and Emigration Department in a statement via the Department of Government Information requested those who have booked appointments to obtain a passport on Tuesday (14) to report to the Department on Wednesday (15).He added that those who booked appointments for Wednesday (15) are requested to report to the Department on Thursday (16).Further, those who booked appointments for Friday (17), are requested to report to the Department on Saturday (18).The statment further noted that the passports for applications submitted on Monday (13) will be issued after 12 noon on Tuesday (14).Those who cannot visit the Department and obtain the passport will have thier passports sent by courier to their residences.

People across Lanarkshire have joined the UK’s biggest conversation on mental health stigma for Time to Talk Day.

NHS Ayrshire & Arran’s Covid-19 Therapeutic Service has surpassed a major milestone - after being in operation for more than a year.

Bloomberg: The International Monetary Fund said its approval for a $2.9 billion loan to bail out crisis-riddled Sri Lanka will depend on the island nation securing assurances on debt relief from its bilateral creditors.“Sri Lanka continues to engage with official bilateral creditors to obtain financing assurances and also continues to advance domestic reforms,” an IMF spokesperson said in a statement on the progress of its Extended Fund Facility to the South Asian nation. “As soon as adequate assurances are obtained and remaining requirements are met, including by the Sri Lankan authorities, the EFF arrangement for Sri Lanka can be presented to the IMF’s Executive Board for approval.”The Paris Club – an informal group of rich western creditors — and India have provided formal support to the multilateral lender for the loan recast, leaving China — Sri Lanka’s biggest lender — as a holdout.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is encouraging older people with a physical or mental health condition, or a disability, to check if they are entitled to claim a benefit worth either £61.85 or £92.40 every week.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The bodies of two women were discovered in a house in Peraghamulla, Ginigathhena.Sri Lanka Police said that a mother and her daughter were found dead inside a house in Peraghamulla, Ginigathhena.Neighbours had informed Sri Lanka Police that the mother and daughter were not seen for days, and a foul odour was emitting from the residence.Accordingly, the police discovered the two bodies on Thursday (9) morning.A 50-year-old woman and her 30-year-old daughter were identified as the deceased individuals.Sri Lanka Police said that the deceased woman's husband and son were employed in Colombo.

Reece Donnelly has quit The Apprentice due to health reasons, it has been confirmed.

Indian Union minister L.

  A statement noted that the Paris Club members held a meeting on January 25, 2023, in the presence of representatives from Hungary, Saudi Arabia, the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development and India, as well as from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, to provide financing assurances to support the approval by the IMF Executive Board of the envisaged IMF program for Sri Lanka, which would allow to restore the country’s macroeconomic stability.They examined the macroeconomic and financial situation of Sri Lanka, including its long-term debt sustainability, and the need for a debt treatment by all bilateral creditors to both fill the financing gap and to ensure Sri Lanka’s debt sustainability in line with the proposed Extended Fund Facility."We acknowledge that the Sri Lankan authorities had the opportunity to present Sri Lanka’s economic and financial situation to their creditors, which underscored the need for debt treatment from all creditors.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, PC said that the country is ready to deploy a contingent of 300 military personnel for relief efforts in Turkiye.The contingent will include personnel from the Sri Lanka Engineers Corps and the Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps.Minister Ali Sabry said that on the instructions of the President he contacted the Foreign Minister of Turkiye and offered assistance for search & rescue"We recall when the Tsunami struck us in 2004,Türkiye provided immediate humanitarian assistance & built a housing complex for those who lost their houses," tweeted the Minister.The Sri Lankan Embassy in Turkiye said that it has not been able to access information with regard to the Sri Lankan woman who was reported missing following the devastating earthquakes.A Senior Officer attached to the mission said that the mobile device of the Sri Lankan woman was traced.The Officer also noted that earlier it was reported that the building in which was living had collapsed, however, reports later suggested that she had vacated the premises before the earthquakes.Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, PC said that a contingent of 300 military personnel are ready to be deployed to Turkiye, as soon as a request for help is made.The contingent will include Sri Lanka Army Engineers and personnel from the Medical Corps.On Monday (6)  Foreign Minister Ali Sabry said 9 Sri Lankans were residing in the region. 8 people have been contacted.

An expert has outlined the potential problems that can arise as a result of going to the toilet when you don't really need.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Udeni Wickramasinghe & Mohan Samaranayake have informed the President that they would be resigning from the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka.Mohan Samaranayake in his letter of resignation had noted that the work environment, and the work style of the PUCSL has become highly unprofessional, unpleasant, and intolerable.He added that the situation has degenerated to such an extent that on 20th January 2023 when a special meeting of the commission was held, a group of thugs was organized and allowed inside the commission premises who indirectly threatened him with physical assault and destruction of property.He noted that the act of hooliganism was justified by the insinuation by the PUCSL Chairman at the National Council meeting on 24th January 2023 with the participation of the members of the commission.Samaranayake noted that the justification of threats against him indicated he run the risk of being threatened and even assaulted in the future.He also noted that the Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka by violating Section 9 (5) of the PUCSL Act continues to make decision and statements purported to be that of the commission without the concurrence of the rest of the members, thereby making other members redundant.Mohan Samaranayake said that he had been humiliated and painted the villain before the society.He also noted that the failure on the part of the government authorities to counter legal and other arguments against the proposed electricity tariff hike with irrefutable facts, leave the people in a quandary.Udeni Wickramasinghe noted that he decided to resign from the PUCSL due to personal reasons. 

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Ceylon Electricity Board informed the Supreme Court on Friday (3) that it would be withdrawing the assurance that it gave to refrain from imposing power cuts until the Contempt of Court application filed by the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka is taken up for consideration, and the matter is concluded.President's Counsel Romesh De Silva appearing for the CEB made the announcement to the court.The matter was taken up in the presence of Justices Gamini Amarasekera, Kumuduni Wickremesinghe, and Shiran Gunaratne for consideration.Thereafter, the President's Counsel noted that the assurance will be withdrawn with effect from Friday (3).President's Counsel Upul Jayasuriya appearing for the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka requested for an interim order to prevent the CEB from imposing Power Cuts during the period of the Advanced Level Examination is over, if the respondent is withdrawing the assurance that it gave to the Supreme Court on Thursday (2).However, the Supreme Court rejected the request and fixed the matter to be taken up again on the 7th of February at 1:30 PM.The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka had moved to the Supreme Court against the Ceylon Electricity Board for failing to follow the directive to provide an uninterrupted supply of electricity until the end of the G. C.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Ad Hoc Group of Sri Lanka Bondholders (the "Bondholder Group") in a letter to the IMF Managing Director has confirmed it is prepared to engage, through its Steering Committee, with the Sri Lankan authorities in restructuring negotiations consistent with the parameters of an IMF Programme and the targets specified therein (the "IMF Programme Targets").The Ad Hoc Group of Sri Lanka Bondholders (the "Bondholder Group") has acknowledges the Sri Lankan authorities' engagement with their official creditors towards a resolution of the current crisis and restoration of debt sustainability.The Bondholder Group further acknowledged that such engagement has recently resulted in the Government of India (in its letter to the IMF, dated January 16, 2023 (the "India Letter")) delivering letters of financing assurances, committing to support Sri Lanka and contribute to its efforts to restore debt sustainability by providing debt relief and financing consistent with the IMF Extended Fund Facility Arrangement (the "IMF Programme") and the IMF Programme targets indicated in the India Letter.Similarly, the Bondholder Group through its Steering Committee stands ready to engage quickly and effectively with the Sri Lankan authorities to design and implement restructuring terms that would help Sri Lanka restore debt sustainability and allow the country to re-gain access to the international capital markets during the IMF Programme period.The Bondholder Group understands that the IMF Programme's debt sustainability targets are identified as (i) reducing the ratio of public debt to GDP to 95% by 2032,  (ii) limiting the central government's annual gross financing needs to GDP ratio to 13% in the period between 2027 and

COLOMBO (News 1st); The car that belonged to millionaire businessman Roshan Wanninayake, the owner of a retail clothing chain, who was found dead in a rooftop swimming pool at a house in Pelawatte, Battaramulla was located from St.

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Secretary to the Prime Minister has instructed to issue a gazette notification regarding the name of the area which has been known as Slave Island in English until now, as Kompanna Vidiya / Kompagngna Veediya in the three main languages used in the country.The Secretary to the Prime Minister Anura Dissanayake has informed the Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Local Government and Provincial Councils, the Postmaster General and the Commissioner of Colombo Municipal Council regarding this decision which has been taken on the advice of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena in line with the 75th commemoration of Independence.Accordingly, road signs, postal usage, assessment and names of voters and voters’ registers associated with, Kompagngna Veediya / Kompanna Vidiya, Colombo 2, will be renamed as Kompanna Vidiya / Kompagngna Veediya in Sinhala, Tamil and English since the nomenclature of “Slave Island” used during the colonial period signifies a different meaning. The name "Slave Island" was coined during the period of British colonial rule and was a reference to the usage of the island under Portuguese rule as a holding area for African slaves, most of them from the Swahili coast and Portuguese East Africa.

Residents in Wishaw and the surrounding areas are being invited to make new friends and become more active by joining new health walks.

(Reuters) – The Paris Club of creditor nations is ready to provide financing assurances to Sri Lanka, a key step needed to unlock a $2.9 billion bailout by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.The informal group of bilateral lenders is set to "soon" announce its support to the crisis-hit nation on a debt overhaul, said one of the people, who asked not to be named because talks are private.The Asian island nation, which is grappling with soaring inflation, a recession and currency depreciation, entered into a staff level agreement with the IMF last September.But it needs financing assurances from key bilateral lenders before the fund's executive board approves the programme.Sri Lanka's public debt stood at 122% of GDP, of which 70% is denominated in foreign currency, according to data in a country presentation to investors in November.China and India, both non-Paris Club members, are the top bilateral lenders. "Paris Club assurance is not reliant on China," said the source.Another source said the informal group is currently reaching out to other non-Paris Club besides China on financing assurances, but did not provide any further details.India previously committed to help ease the debt burden of neighbour Sri Lanka as part of the IMF programme, and China's Eximbank offered a two-year moratorium in a letter sent to the island nation in January.While the IMF has not yet provided any guidance on where the lender stands regarding China's assurances to Sri Lanka, a U.S.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) compiled by Transparency International (TI) was released yesterday. The CPI scores 180 countries and territories around the world based on perceptions of public sector corruption.

COLOMBO (News 1st); In a note to the Cabinet, President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, had stated that the Government revenue at present is far below the monthly expenditure for the month of January 2023.The President's Media Division, and Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Bandula Gunawardena confirmed that the President had instructed on further curtailing government expenses.The President had noted that the Treasury finds it challenging to meet all expenditures at this moment, except for payments for salaries, pensions, welfare, pharmaceuticals and debt servicing.Therefore, President Wickremesinghe had pointed out that the Government expenditure will have to be curtailed further / postponed until planned revenue to be raised on the recent tax revisions is realized, reported the President's Media Division.He had noted that the Treasury will formulate a priority criterion for this purpose.Furthermore, the President had pointed out that public officers should refrain from obtaining goods/services on credit basis, and any officer who violates this will be held personally responsible for such expenditure, said the PMD."The President informed the Cabinet of Ministers that the revenue for January collected from the Inland Revenue Department, Sri Lanka Customs and the Excise Department was Rs. 158.7 Billion.

Regular listeners of Zoe Ball’s Radio 2 Breakfast show were left confused this morning when the star was absent from her slot due to illness.

RADIO 2 listeners were left shocked this morning after Zoe Ball was replaced on her Breakfast Show. The broadcaster revealed she had to miss her early morning slot after a health emergency on Monday. Zoe, 52, was replaced by former Radio 1 host Vernon Kay for her weekday morning show.

COLOMBO (News 1st) : The National Election Commission on Monday (30) said that there is no requirement for the members of the NEC to sign the relevant gazette notification to commence the Local Government Election process.National Election Commission Chairman Attorney Nimal Punchihewa speaking to News 1st said that the District Returning Officers would be issuing a necessary gazette notification.The National Election Commission said the relevant gazette will be sent for printing on Monday (30) or Tuesday (31).The Gazette notice with the signatures of the Chairman and other members of the Election Commission required for the commencement of the Local Government Election process had not yet been sent to the Government Press for printing, said the Government Information Department on Sunday (29).

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.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has informed the All Party Leaders' Conference on Reconciliation that the Cabinet was agreeable to fully implementing 13th Amendment, until the Party Leaders decide whether or not to abolish the Amendment.This was reported by the President's Media Division on Friday (27).President Ranil Wickremesinghe had said that he is bound to implement the existing law in accordance with the executive powers of the President.He had said further that the 13th Amendment to the Constitution is being implemented accordingly or the Parliament should abolish the 13th amendment.The President Wickremesinghe also pointed out that any parliamentarian could move a private member’s bill to abolish the 13th Amendment to the constitution and the same amendment would have to be implemented provided that the bill was voted against by the majority of the House.The President stressed that he was not ready to divide the country.President Wickremesinghe made these remarks at the All-Party Conference, which was held at the President's Office on Thursday (26) evening.The statement made by the President is as follows:It is my responsibility as the Executive to carry out the current law. For approximately 37 years, the 13th Amendment has been a part of the constitution.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera said that the officials from the Ministry of Power and Energy who attended a recent meeting with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka had disclosed that they were pressurized to sign two documents that they did not agree do.The Minister tweeted on Friday (27) that the officials were pressurized by two members of the Human Rights Commission, and that they were threatened with jail sentences.On Wednesday (25), the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka revealed that all the  necessary stakeholders including Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) agreed to provide uninterrupted power supply during the advanced level examination period until February 17th.However, despite the statement from the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, power outages were experienced on Wednesday (25) and Thursday (26).The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka on Friday (27) said it will elaborate facts to the Supreme Court against officials including the Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board and the Secretary to the Ministry of Power and Energy for breaching an agreement by suspending the supply of power. Speaking further, an official from the HRCS said it has been observed that the CEB and the Ministry of Power and Energy are operating arbitrarily, going against the laws of the land. Meanwhile, the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka directing a letter to the Chairman of the HRCSL said that it will not approve power outages occurring during the period between the 26th of January and 17th of February. The Human Rights Commission emphasized that if the CEB does not act according to the directive, the HRCSL has the ability to act according to Section 21 of the Sri

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Former President Maithripala Sirisena on Friday (27) was seen getting into the defendant's dock when the case filed with the Fort Magistrate's Court against him for failing to prevent the 2019 April Attacks despite receiving credible information about the attacks, was taken up.Initially, he did not get into the dock, and following a clarification made by the court, Sirisena was asked to get into the defendant's dock.An individual who lost a limb in the attacks on the St. Anthony's Church in Kochchikade on the 21st of April 2019, and Rev.

Almost two thirds of Scottish parents say they're suffering mentally because of the cost-of-living crisis. A new poll of parents and carers found that 64 per cent of those asked thought the rising prices of food, energy and bills had "negatively impacted" their mental health.

The Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) – 2023 bilateral exercise successfully concluded in Sri Lanka  on 26th January 2023. Hosted by the U.S. Pacific Fleet in partnership with the Sri Lanka Navy, CARAT – 2023 Exercise was held in Colombo, Trincomalee and Mullikulam from 19th to 25th January.The closing ceremony of CARAT – 2023 was held on board ‘USS Anchorage’ at the pier side of Colombo harbour under the auspices of U.S.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Chairman of the National Election Commission Attorney Nimal Punchihewa has refuted rumours being spread that he is planning on submitting his resignation to the NEC."Paying any heed to these rumours is a waste of time", he said."All preparations are being made to hold the local government election", Attorney Punchihewa said."The resignation of one member of the Election Commission does not affect the Commission's ability to hold the election", he added.The Chairman of the commission was responding to the media reports regarding the resignation of member of the Election Commission P.S.M.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lankan rice farmers who feed the nation are in a situation where they cannot even afford their own meals.This can be attributed to the diseases that is turning rice plants yellow, which is spreading across a plethora of paddy lands in the country.Farmers from Henkola Wewa that falls under the Mahasen Bedum Ela Agrarian Organization in Polonnaruwa commenced the Maha Season cultivation with high hopes.However, their dreams of a rich harvest were shattered by the disease that is turning rice plants to yellow.Farmers claim that around 800 acres of rice fields have been affected, leaving the farmers at a massive loss.Farmers also said that they immediately informed the authorities when they noticed the disease in the initial stages, however, the relevant officials turned a blind eye to the issue.In addition, over 100 acres of rice fields in the Weligepola area in Ratnapura have also been affected  by the disease that is turning rice plants to yellow.Another 6,000 acres of paddy land in the Rajanganaya Agrarian Settlement have been destroyed by the same disease.The same fate had befallen many other rice cultivations across the country.The Rice Research and Development Institute (RRDI) in Bathalagoda said that tests have revealed that organic fertilizer was NOT a cause for rice plants to turn yellow.Director of the Rice Research and Development Institute (RRDI) Dr. Jayantha Senanayake told News 1st that the samples obtained from paddy lands and organic fertilizer samples obtained from the possession of farmers, are being subject to tests.He added that remedies are available to address the situation.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's Power & Energy Secretary and the Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission were informed to appear for an inquiry at the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka on Wednesday (25) at 10:30 AM.The summons were sent as the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka had observed that its directive to the  Power & Energy Secretary, and the Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission to take necessary measures to prevent power outages during the period of the Advanced Level examination had been disregarded.On Monday (23), the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka informed the Power & Energy Secretary and the Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission to take necessary measures to prevent power outages during the period of the Advanced Level examination, citing that power outages could negatively impact the studies of the candidates. The 2022 Advanced Level examination got underway on Monday (23), and will continue to the 17th of February.Meanwhile, 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.

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) –  Although the government assured that there will be no power cuts during the period of the G. C. E.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Treasury Secretary Mahinda Siriwardena had informed the Supreme Court via an affidavit on Thursday (19) that sourcing funds for the election has become a challenge.He had directed an affidavit to the Supreme Court in relation to the writ application filed by Retired Sri Lanka Army Colonel W. M.

COLOMBO (News 1st) –  The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka said that President Ranil Wickremesinghe summoned its commissioners for talks.The meet fixed for Thursday (19) afternoon was scheduled to discuss the issues in the country's energy sector.However, the Chairman of the PUCSL Janaka Ratnayake told News 1st that he was not invited for the meeting.In addition, the officials from the PUCSL have also been informed to appear before the National Council at three in the eveing.PUCSL Janaka Ratnayake told News 1st that he will attend that meeting.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's Cabinet of Ministers have decided to slash 6% of the recurrent expenditure from the government expenditure estimations approved for the year 2023.It was decided to suspend 5% of the recurrent expenditure in the government expenditure estimations for the year 2023 at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on 09.01.2023 so that sufficient financial provisions can be ensured for the control of government expenditure within the existing limited financial space as well as the finances for essential and priority activities. The Department of Government Information said that the Cabinet of Ministers decided to with hold 6% from the recurrent provisions in approved government expenditure estimations instead of 5% from the recurrent expenditure.It was also decided to allocate a portion equal to 1% of the aforementioned amount to the Ministry of Health as additional provisions to purchase essential pharmaceutical drugs.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – For the first time in Sri Lanka, Members of the Parliament have revealed their educational and professional qualifications for the perusal of the public. From the 225 Parliamentarians, 208 have declared either their educational or professional qualifications, or both to the Parliament Secretariat.After parliamentary officials refused to divulge the information initially, the Right To Information Commission ruled that the information must be disclosed.

COLOMBO (News 1st) –  The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps will commence exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT)/Marine Exercise (MAREX) Sri Lanka 2023 with the Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force in Colombo.The exercise will commence on the 19th of January, and will end on the 26th of January. CARAT/MAREX Sri Lanka is a bilateral exercise between Sri Lanka and the United States designed to promote regional security cooperation, maintain and strengthen maritime partnerships, and enhance maritime interoperability.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval to pay the salaries of non-executive state sector employees on time and to delay the salaries of executive-grade staff by a few days, considering the current financial situation of the government.The Department of Government Information in a statement said that the 2023 revenue proposals have been implemented, and because revenue generation would take some time, the government has decided to manage its expenses from January 2023.And thus, the cabinet has approved to delay the salaries of executive-grade staff by a few days.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – 10 suspects who were arrested on the high seas, along with two local fishing trawlers, suspected to have smuggled narcotics into the island were brought to the Colombo Harbour on Monday (16).The apprehension was made based on information revealed by the suspects of a local fishing trawler which was held during a special operation carried out by the Navy in waters west of Beruwala on 05th January. The same operation also led to the seizure of 23kg and 235g (including packages) of heroin smuggled by those suspects.According to a coordinated operation carried out by the Navy together with other intelligence services, it has been revealed that a number of local multi-day fishing trawlers are involved in the smuggling of drugs into Sri Lanka. During the apprehension made by SLNS Wickrama II on 05th January off Beruwala, 22 packages of heroin weighing 23kg and 235g (including packages) were recovered from the suspicious trawler (Reg. No.

BEIJING : The World Health Organization has appealed to China to keep releasing information about its wave of COVID-19 infections after the government announced nearly 60,000 deaths since early December following weeks of complaints it was failing to tell the world what was happening. The announcement Saturday was the first official death toll since the ruling Communist Party abruptly dropped anti-virus restrictions in December despite a surge in infections that flooded hospitals. That left the WHO and other governments appealing for information, while the United States, South Korea and others imposed controls on visitors from China.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The National Election Commission on Friday (13) informed the Supreme Court that the Local Government Election will go ahead as planned.The Election Commission informed the Supreme Court about this matter when a petition filed by Retired Sri Lanka Army Colonel W. M.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka Police arrested two men for aiding and abetting in the murder of a man in Bastian Mawatha, Colombo and injuring another.Sri Lanka Police said that it received information about the motorcycle that was used by the gunmen in last year's shooting, and visited Piliyandala to conduct a raid where officers arrested a suspect in possession of the motorcycle.Following the interrogation of the suspect, police officers arrested another suspect from Mattakuliya for handing over the motorcycle to the suspect from Piliyandala.On the 30th of May 2022, One person was killed and another was injured in a shooting near the Private Bus Terminal at Bastian Mawatha, Colombo.Police investigations revealed that the man who was gunned had attended a court hearing at the Hultsdorf Court with three others before he was targeted by two masked gunmen.According to Police, four men had exited the court and one of them had left on a motorcycle. Thereafter, two men on a motorcycle approached the three men at the Bus Terminal and opened fire using a T-56 Assault Rifle.Investigations revealed that the three men were previously employed as security officers attached to a restaurant in Cinnamon Gardens, and a case was filed against them following an incident said to have taken place at the restaurant.Police officers also uncovered that the men were supposed to pay a certain sum to the court over the incident.An eye-witness told News 1st that the shooters fired several rounds in broad daylight when hundreds were moving in and out of the Bastian Mawatha Private Bus Terminal.News 1st inquiries revealed that the three men who were targeted had once served in the Commando Regiment of the Sri Lanka Army, and after leaving service

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's Supreme Court on Thursday (12) found Former President Maithripala Sirisena, his Defence Secretary, the Police Chief during his time, as well as the then Chief of National Intelligence, and Director of State Intelligence guilty of violating fundamental right.11 Fundamental Rights petitions were filed with the Supreme Court, claiming that the Sri Lankan administration failed to prevent the 2019 Easter Sunday Attacks, despite having information about an imminent attack.The applications contain revelations of reckless failure on the part of the Executive Branch of the government and the Petitioners allege that these illegal omissions effectively betray the people and public trust by recklessly failing to take cognizance and accord due priority to intelligence information received regarding the premeditation of the attacks which could have been prevented if proactive and timely response had been taken.The respondents named in the petitions are Former President Maithripala Sirisena, Former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando, Former Police Chief Pujith Jayasundara, Former National Intelligence Service Chief Sisira Mendis, and Former State Intelligence Services Chief Nilantha Jayawardena.Maithripala Sirisena:The Supreme Court observed that multiple gazettes bestowed 23 duties on the President as a Minister of Defence, thus an increase of duties vested in the Minister.The Supreme Court observed that an exponential range of powers over security continued to be bestowed on Minister of Defence as the years rolled by and it cannot be gainsaid that the Minister of Defence was the repository of the national security of the country. The Supreme Court noted that the custody of personal liberty and