Vegan mom gets life in prison following death of son from malnutrition

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Embassy of Sri Lanka to the United States, working in collaboration with renowned American humanitarian donor organizations, has achieved a significant milestone in the provision of free medicines and medical supplies to Sri Lanka from July to October 2022.Three consignments have already been sent to the Ministry of Health and a fourth is expected to land on 2nd October.The total value of the 4 consignments is over US Dollars 12,645,150. At today’s exchange rate, this is worth approximately SL Rupees 4.6 billion (exactly LKR 4,588,925,697).Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to the United States, Mahinda Samarasinghe, who reached out to US donor organizations earlier this year, has conveyed his heartfelt gratitude to the three donors, Heart to Heart International, Hope Worldwide, and Americares for their generosity which has proved timely and potentially lifesaving for hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankans in dire need. The Ambassador intends to continue working with humanitarian organizations and agencies to assist vulnerable segments of the population.Commencing in July 2022, Heart to Heart International has sent two consignments worth USD 9.131 million.The consignment from Americares arrived in Colombo earlier in September and is valued at over USD 773,000.

COLOMBO (News 1st)  – Sri Lanka's Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa revealed on Friday (30) that the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna cooked up a plan to destroy his political career by appointing him as the country's Prime Minister.Sajith Premadasa told reporters that Gotabaya Rajapaksa made a request for him to take up the post of Prime Minister."He did not off me the post for the benefit of the people or the country. I became aware that they planned to bring forward a motion of no-confidence against me after I am made the Prime Minister," he said adding that at the time the SLPP had a majority of the MPs."134 votes were cast in favor of the main protector of the Rajapaksas, the current president.

Thursday's view of a marina in downtown Fort Myers, contrasted with a photo from before Hurricane Ian. (NOAA) We’ve already seen the frightening scenes that Hurricane Ian brought to southwest Florida, but the full extent of the storm’s impact is becoming more detailed now that the federal government is publishing aerial photos taken during recent survey flights. Imagery posted on an interactive map was taken by NOAA’s Remote Sensing Division "to support homeland security and emergency response needs" after the storm.  The photos – taken during long sweeps by the agency's Hawker Beechcraft King Air 350CER plane starting on Thursday – cover a 50-mile swath from Cayo Costa, where the storm’s eye made landfall, down to Sanibel and then up the Caloosahatchee River to Fort Myers.A second 15-mile stretch covers the coast west of Cape Coral.LINK: See NOAA's damage mapAFTER: The Sanibel Causeway (NOAA) One of the most obvious features visible in the photos is the destruction of the Sanibel Causeway.

Experts have revealed the most common Covid symptoms as cases continue to rise across England.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday Ukraine was formally applying for fast-track membership of the NATO military alliance and that Kyiv was ready for talks with Moscow, but not with President Vladimir Putin.

EWING, N.J. - Firefighters were on scene at the Ewing Senior and Community Center battling a three-alarm fire that broke out early Friday morning. Authorities say the fire broke out around 5 a.m., while the facility was closed. According to fire officials, the roof of the building collapsed as crews worked to put out the flames. MORE LOCAL HEADLINESSKYFOX flew over the scene of the fire as several crews continued to respond. Officials have not reported any injuries at this time. Parkway Avenue is closed from Scotch Road to Farrell Avenue as crews remain on scene fighting the flames. Drivers are advised to avoid the area. The cause of the fire is under investigation. SKYFOX flew over the scene of the Ewing Senior and Community Center as crews work to put out a 3-alarm fire.

West Reading, PA - June 15: A photo illustration of tap water in a clear glass drinking glass in West Reading, PA Tuesday afternoon June 15, 2021. (Photo by Ben Hasty/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images) NORRISTOWN, Pa. - More than 11,000 customers in parts of Montgomery County have been advised to boil their water before consumption due to the increased risk of contamination. According to Pennsylvania American Water, loss of positive water pressure was experienced after a water main break in Norristown. "The loss of positive water pressure is a signal of the existence of conditions that could allow contamination to enter the distribution system through back-flow by back pressure or back siphonage," the agency said.

PHILADELPHIA - A retired Philadelphia police officer has been charged with indecent assault of minors and investigators are urging any other potential victims to come forward. Patrick Heron, 52, is in custody and being held on $2 million bail for a number of charges District Attorney Larry Krasner says relate to unlawful sexual contact with young girls. Heron is also accused witness retaliation, harassment, and stalking of both adults and juveniles related to alleged cover-up efforts.  "The alleged crimes for which this individual is charged are honestly some of the worst I’ve ever seen against an ex-law enforcement official," Krasner said during a Friday morning press conference. Patrick Heron, 52 (Philadelphia Police Department)Heron is charged with unlawful contact with minors involving sexual offenses, computer sex acts with children, indecent assault of a person less than 13, and related offenses. "The conduct alleged includes unlawful sexual contact with minors - some of them quite young – electronic messages that appear to be efforts at grooming young girls or coercion of young girls to meet with this defendant in person, to send him intimate photographs.

Barney the dinosaur performs during the Hollywood Radio and Television Society's 10th Annual Kids Day 2004 show on August 18, 2004 at Hollywood and Highland's grand ballroom in Hollywood, California. (Vince Bucci/Getty Images) Behind the large smile of the popular purple dinosaur Barney, lies a shocking dark side. The new two-part "Barney" docuseries "I Love You, You Hate Me," uncovers alleged death threats, rumors and violence toward the beloved character created by Sheryl Leach in 1992."What color is happier than purple? No color," Bill Nye said in Peacock’s newly released trailer. What became a cultural television phenomenon continued to receive negative criticism nationwide. BARNEY THE DINOSAUR ACTOR IS NOW A TANTRIC SEX THERAPIST"'I Love You, You Hate Me' is a limited series chronicling the rise and fall of Barney the Dinosaur’s furious backlash — and what it says about the human need to hate," the docuseries synopsis read.Barney the dinosaur greets the audience during the Hollywood Radio and Television Society's 10th Annual Kids Day 2004 show on August 18, 2004 at Hollywood and Highland's grand ballroom in Hollywood, California.

PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Police Department is investigating several shootings that left four people injured, three critically, early Friday morning. Police say the first shooting took place just after 1 a.m. on the 6100 block of Market Street. According to authorities, an 18-year-old was shot in the leg and was transported to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he was placed in stable condition. A 25-year-old man sustained multiple gunshot wounds throughout his body in the same shooting, officials say.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – UNICEF welcomes the contribution of US$ 500,000 from the Japanese Government to support the provision of nutrition services for children and families affected by the current crisis that Sri Lanka faces.In coordination with the Ministry of Health and partners, the funding will be used to procure micronutrients urgently needed to care for children, carry out screening and provide the necessary follow-up, including counseling for malnutrition. 

(PTI) Indian RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said that it was only India which helped Sri Lanka and Maldives when these countries were in distress while other countries were interested in finding business opportunities.Spirituality is the "soul of India", he said, addressing a program organized by Bharat Vikas Manch, an organization associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He said that countries like China, United States and Pakistan turned their attention to Sri Lanka when they saw business opportunities there.The RSS Chief added that now when Sri Lanka is in trouble, it is only India that is extending support.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) approved power cuts of 2 hours and 20 minutes for 01st & 02nd October as follows;Groups ABCDEFGHIJKLPQRSTUVW: 1-hour during daytime 1-hour and 20-minutes during the night

Vladimir Putin proclaimed Russia’s annexation of a swath of Ukraine on Friday in a speech at the Kremlin but the event was overshadowed by one of Russia‘s worst battlefield defeats of the war, with one of its main garrisons surrounded.“People living in Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson region and Zaporizhzhia region are becoming our compatriots forever,” Putin told a crowd of officials in a ceremony in an ornate hall.“We will defend our land with all our strength and all our means,” he said, calling on “the Kyiv regime to immediately cease hostilities and return to the negotiation table.” Assaults on annexed Ukrainian territory will be an attack on Russia: Kremlin Putin’s proclamation of Russian rule over 15 per cent of Ukraine – the biggest annexation in Europe since the Second World War- has been firmly rejected by Western countries and even many of Russia’s close allies. UN General Secretary Antonio Guterres called it an illegal violation of the UN charter.It comes as Russian forces have faced setbacks on the battlefield, with one of the worst so far looming even as Putin spoke.

Hurricane Ian are beginning to reopen.Here are a few of those parks, each with its own approach to reopening:A Disney World hotel guest took video of the flooding outside the Swan and Dolphin Resort as Hurricane Ian lashed Orlando, Florida. Ian has since downgraded to a tropical storm. (Credit: JaiHawkFly)Walt Disney World Resort will resume theme park and Disney Springs operations in a phased approach beginning on Friday, Sept.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - The family of a 93-year-old woman who was poisoned and died at an assisted living facility in San Mateo filed a lawsuit Thursday alleging elder abuse and wrongful death.Trudy Maxwell was one of two residents who died in this incident.Maxwell's daughter, Monica, said the purpose of the lawsuit is to shed light on her mother's case.She hopes to prevent this from happening to anyone else."She was a strong woman having had 9 children, the matriarch of the family," Maxwell said as she described her beloved mother as a well-respected member of the community.She said her mom was resilient, bouncing back when she fell and suffered bruises."She would heal from this stuff," Monica Maxell said. "We called her Wolverine because she'd heal herself all the time.

The total cost of the Covid-19 pandemic incurred by the State is estimated to be almost €30bn.

Sleep plays a vital role in maintaining both physical and mental health and while most of us feel we get enough hours, the time we got to bed may also impact wellbeing.

In this photo illustration, the Entain plc logo seen displayed on a smartphone. (Photo Illustration by Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - A New York City man is suing an Atlantic City casino, its parent company and its online betting partner, alleging he was repeatedly disconnected while gambling online, and was given payments to prevent him from reporting the malfunctions to New Jersey gambling regulators during a nine-month span in which he wagered over $29 million.Sam Antar says he is a compulsive gambler — a fact he says was well-known to defendants in the case including the Borgata casino, MGM Resorts International, and its online partner Entain.In a lawsuit filed Wednesday in state Superior Court in Middlesex County, Antar accuses the defendants of fraud, racketeering and other transgressions.

PERKASIE, Pa. - The Pennridge School District has adopted a new controversial policy surrounding advocacy for specific causes and movements. The new policy instructs all teachers to remove crosses, political signs, materials discussing abortion, whether pro or against, and LGBTQ+ pride flags and materials from their classrooms. The school board was supposed to have further discussion on the policy, but on Tuesday night, they voted to fast-track its approval. MORE LOCAL HEADLINESJoan Cullen, the president of the Pennridge School District School Board, says the policy does not target one specific group but rather is focusing on the removal of all symbols from classrooms. "This applies to all symbols. I think we are getting drawn into this idea that it's targeted at one thing.

EWING, N.J. - Firefighters are on scene at the Ewing Senior and Community Center battling a three-alarm fire that broke out early Friday morning. Authorities say the fire broke out overnight on Friday when the facility was closed. According to fire officials, the roof of the building has collapsed. The roof of the Ewing Senior and Community Center has collapsed as crews battled a three-alarm fire that broke out Friday morning.MORE LOCAL HEADLINESSKYFOX flew over the scene of the fire as several crews continued to battle the flames. Officials have not reported any injuries at this time. Parkway Avenue is closed from Scotch Road to Farrell Avenue as crews remain on scene fighting the flames. Drivers are advised to avoid the area. SKYFOX flew over the scene of the Ewing Senior and Community Center as crews work to put out a 3-alarm fire.

Sweden's Public Health Agency has said it was no longer recommending that children aged 12 to 17 get vaccinated against Covid-19, citing the "very low risk" for the group.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's Food Inflation had spiked to 94.9% in September 2022, said the Deaprtment of Census and Statistics on Friday (30).It also said that Year on Year Inflation was measured at 69.8% in September 2022.        

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. - The NFL and firefighter communities are mourning the loss of one of their own.Former Dallas Cowboys tight end Gavin Escobar was one of the two rock climbers found dead in Riverside County.Escobar, 31, was identified by the Riverside County sheriff's coroner's office after he and 33-year-old Chelsea Walsh were found dead near Idyllwild Wednesday afternoon.Escobar played five seasons in the NFL – four with the Cowboys and one with the Baltimore Ravens – after being drafted in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He played 64 games in the NFL, starting in seven of the games, and hauled in eight total touchdown receptions.Prior to his pro career, he starred with San Diego State and Santa Margarita Catholic.IRVING, TX - MAY 10: Gavin Escobar #89 walks back to the locker room concluding the afternoon practice of the Dallas Cowboys Rookie Minicamp at Dallas Cowboys Headquarters Valley Ranch in Irving on May 10, 2013 in Irving, Texas.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – JICA has decided to provide additional support to procure medicine, responding to serious medicine shortages in Sri LankaJICA will provide additional support to procure medicine as part of the “Project for Strengthening COVID-19 Response”.Original Input from JICA for this project was to provide Rs.300mn worth essential equipment for the base hospitals in Teldeniya, Warakapola, Walikanda, Pimbura, Nawalapitiya, Hingurakgoda, Karawanella, and Avissavella (for mainly treatment) and District General Hospital Hambantota (for particularly PCR tests) and to provide online training, for strengthening capacities in the preparedness and development for diagnostics and treatment services to combat infectious diseases including COVID-19.JICA has decided to provide additional support to procure medicine under this project, responding to the serious medicine shortages in Sri Lanka.Sri Lanka is still facing serious shortages of medicine due to the ongoing crisis. Some hospitals need to suspend their surgeries because of lack of medicines and surgical equipment. The prices of medicines are rapidly increasing, which are mostly imported but unable to import because of the current situation in Sri Lanka.

Daniel Johnston‘s 1983 album ‘Hi, How Are You?’ will feature conversations around mental health with musicians performing at Austin City Limits Music Festival.The series is being presented by the Hi, How Are You Project, a non-profit organisation established with the support of Johnston’s family in 2018 to create “thoughtful media, events and peer-to-peer training programs that encourage open and ongoing dialogue on mental well-being”.The podcast is hosted by students from the University of Texas in Austin, with additional commentary provided by clinical advisors from the American Psychological Association, the Texas Psychological Association and Dr. Sonia Krishna from the Hi, How Are You Project.New episodes will air Tuesdays and Thursdays through mid-October, and guests will include indie-pop band Mother Mother, Dayglow, rapper Toosii, singer-songwriter Charley Crockett, and more.The first two episodes of the podcast have been released on Spotify.

Jane’s Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro will sit out the band’s forthcoming tour with Smashing Pumpkins, as the musician is continuing to suffer from the effects of long COVID.In a message to fans posted on the band’s social media, Navarro confirmed he will not be performing on the tour, as he is still experiencing a “continued battle” with long COVID he has been fighting since December of last year.The guitarist said that while he had hoped for a full recovery by the time the tour started in Dallas this weekend, he is still “very fatigued” and, as such, “will not be able to join this leg”.Navarro added that he was particularly “gutted” about not being able to take part in the tour as original bassist Eric Avery has returned to the fold and the tour would have seen the band’s original lineup reunite. “That will have to wait until I am recovered,” Navarro said.Filling in for Navarro will be Queens of the Stone Age guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen, whose other projects have included Failure and A Perfect Circle.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – President Ranil Wickremesinghe proposed to establish an International University on Climate Change in Sri Lanka with the support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in order to enable students from any country in the world to engage in educational activities.President Wickremesinghe made this proposal during a meeting with the President of the Asian Development Bank Masatsugu Asakawa, held this morning (30) at the Asian Development Bank Headquarters in Manila.The ADB President welcomed President Wickremesinghe upon his arrival at the ADB Headquarters.President Wickremesinghe, who expressed his gratitude to the President of the Asian Development Bank for the emergency assistance provided to Sri Lanka in the past, discussed the further strengthening of the long-standing relationship between Sri Lanka and the ADB.The ADB President assured President Ranil Wickremesinghe that he would continue to cooperate with Sri Lanka.President Wickremesinghe also briefed the President of the Asian Development Bank on Sri Lanka’s engagement with the International Monetary Fund.Meanwhile, President Ranil Wickremesinghe also engaged in a discussion with professionals working at the Asian Development Bank.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – SJB MP S. M.

Eligible groups across Lanarkshire are now being invited to get their flu vaccination or their flu and Covid autumn booster.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) says that the operations at the Kelanitissa power plant have resumed. The CEB says that the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) had taken the necessary steps to provide the required diesel and furnace oil for the operations of the Kelanitssa Power Plant.Repairs have begun on Generator 3 at the Norocholai Power plant following the breakdown that took place on 27th September, and the CEB says that it will be added to the main grid by next Monday (3).On the 27th of September 2022, Sri Lanka's energy regulator approved for the Ceylon Electricity Board to purchase power from Private Plants until Norochcholai Power Plant is restored.Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera said on that day that the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation will provide the necessary Diesel, Naphtha, and Furnace Oil requirements to the CEB to maintain power generation without extending the power cuts.This announcement came after Generator 3 at the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant failed.The Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka said that the Generator failed due to a fault.Generator 2 at the Norochcholai Coal Power Plan is already out for repairs.Accordingly, only 300 MW of a total of 900 MW is being generated from the Norochcholai Power Plant.The Kerawalapitiya Yugadanavi Power Plant has also recommenced its operations to generate electricity after being provided with the necessary stocks of furnace oil.The Ministry of Power and Energy said that 300 MW of electricity will be added to the National Grid.It added that the reactivation of the Kerawalapitiya Yugadanavi Power Plant will allow authorities to limit power cuts to two hours and twenty minutes without extending them,

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Kerawalapitiya Yugadanavi Power Plant has recommenced its operations to generate electricity after being provided with the necessary stocks of furnace oil.The Ministry of Power and Energy said that 300 MW of electricity will be added to the National Grid.It added that the reactivation of the Kerawalapitiya Yugadanavi Power Plant will allow authorities to limit power cuts to two hours and twenty minutes without extending them, despite issues at the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant.On the 27th of September 2022, Sri Lanka's energy regulator approved for the Ceylon Electricity Board to purchase power from Private Plants until Norochcholai Power Plant is restored.Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera said the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation will provide the necessary Diesel, Naphtha, and Furnace Oil requirements to the CEB to maintain power generation without extending the power cuts.This announcement came after Generator 3 at the Norochcholai Coal Power Plant failed.The Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka said that the Generator failed due to a fault.Generator 2 at the Norochcholai Coal Power Plan is already out for repairs.Accordingly, only 300 MW of a total of 900 MW is being generated from the Norochcholai Power Plant.

The country’s active caseload has declined to 39,583 with the total number of covid cases recorded at more than 4.45 crores New Delhi: India reported nearly 3,974 covid cases and 18 deaths in the last 24 hours, the union health ministry data said on Friday. The country’s active caseload has declined to 39,583 with the total number of covid cases recorded at more than 4.45 crores. As many as 528629 deaths have been reported in the last two years due to covid.

.Deferring the end date ensured that employers had sufficient time to develop commercial relationships with identity service providers, make the necessary changes to their pre-employment checking processes and carry out responsible on-boarding of their chosen provider.It has also ensured that the right to work scheme has continued to support long-term, post-pandemic working practices, providing sufficient time to put measures in place to enable face to face document checks if employers do not wish to adopt digital checks for British and Irish citizens with a valid passport (or Irish passport card).From 1 October 2022, employers must carry out one of the prescribed checks before employment commences, as set out in guidance.These checks are:a manual right to work checka right to work check using IDVT through the services of an identity service provider (IDSP)a Home Office online right to work checkConducting any of these checks will provide employers with a statutory excuse which is a defence against a civil penalty.Further information for employers on how to conduct these checks is available on the .Where a right to work check has been conducted using the , the information is provided in real time directly from Home Office systems and there is no requirement for employers to see or check the individual’s documents.Employers cannot insist individuals use this service or discriminate against those who choose to use accepted documents to prove their right to work.The has a list of acceptable documents.Employers do not need to carry out retrospective checks on those who had a COVID-19 adjusted check between 30 March 2020 and 30 September 2022 (inclusive).

Tokyo, Japan (Kyodo) – Japan is prepared to "do its part" over Sri Lanka's debt issue, but other creditors, such as China and India, should also be involved in efforts to resolve it, Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki said Thursday (29).Suzuki made the remarks after meeting with Ranil Wickremesinghe, president of Sri Lanka, which has reached a preliminary agreement with the International Monetary Fund on a $2.9 billion loan as the Asian nation needs to restructure its massive debt.Suzuki said he urged Sri Lanka during Thursday's meeting to provide the necessary information, make its own efforts to get China, India and other creditors involved and boost transparency."Japan will do its part if such preconditions are met," Suzuki told reporters without elaborating in the Philippine capital Manila, where he attended a meeting of the Asian Development Bank.During his visit to Japan, the Sri Lankan president met Wednesday with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and discussed the debt issue. The leaders recognized the importance of "fair and transparent" debt restructuring that involves all creditor nations, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.Sri Lanka defaulted on its debt earlier this year.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Iranian government has expressed its willingness to supply Fertilizers to Sri Lanka.The Ministry of Agriculture has decided to obtain fertilizer from Iran, following a meeting with the Iranian Ambassador recently.However, importing fertilizer from Iran has become an issue given international sanctions imposed on the middle-eastern country.The Agriculture Minister said the necessary applications will be made via the Foreign Ministry.

A higher rate of illness benefit for people who miss work due to Covid-19 comes to an end today.

(With inputs from PTI)

Britain’s Royal Mint has unveiled the first coins to feature the portrait of King Charles III.

Hurricanes Ian and Fiona could have grocers that source food from Atlantic Canada and the southern United States passing higher costs on to Canadian consumers, experts say, as some businesses on the east coast begin to rebuild their battered industries.Any disruption to supply chains, which have seen major improvements in shipping costs and reliability over the past six months, is thankfully expected to be brief.“The effects of things like hurricanes tend to be short-lived,” Fraser Johnson, professor of operations management at Ivey Business School, tells Global News.That could be cold comfort to Atlantic Canada’s fishing industry, which was devastated when Fiona, classified then as post-tropical storm, hit the east coast this past weekend.Entire harbours in Newfoundland’s Port aux Basques were washed off the coast as two-metre-high storm surges hit the shore and will need to be rebuilt. Others have seen fishing equipment and entire ships washed out to sea or beached on land.Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray said Thursday that it will take more time to assess the full extent of the damage to the fishing industry, but added she’s willing to work with fish harvesters across the region on requests for a season extension.Sylvain Charlebois, director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University in Halifax, experienced the damaging winds and torrential rain from Fiona first hand, recalling in an interview with Global News how the storm hit in the middle of the night and left his home without power for five days.For residents in Atlantic provinces, lengthy power outages mean short shelf lives for food in fridges and freezers.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The suspect who stabbed a man during a snatch and grab incident in Pahalagama, Gampaha on the 20th of September, was killed in police fire on Thursday (29) night.The wife of the suspect was arrested by Sri Lanka Police.Police Officers had visited the Maduruwita area in Gampaha to arrest the suspects, and during the arrest, he had attempted to stab a police officer.Police officers had opened fire on the suspect, and he was rushed to the Gampaha Hospital where he died upon admission.The deceased was identified as Janaka Lasantha, a resident from Kosowita, Ganemulla.Investigations revealed that the deceased was a drug peddler, and was involved in snatch and grabs with his wife.The mugging incident that went wrong: Rasika Vinod, a 29-year-old mid-level employee at a State Bank in Sri Lanka was brutally killed while he tried to prevent a mugging attempt recently.On Tuesday (20) night, Vinod tragically died when he attempted to foil a snatching attempt at his doorstep, in Pahalagama in the Gampaha District.According to reports, this is how the tragedy had taken place: His wife and her friend were returning home from work on Tuesday (20) night.When his wife was close to their home, a couple in a motorbike approached them and attempted to snatch a handbag.According to Sri Lanka Police, Rasika was waiting at the doorstep for his wife to return home, along with his father.The duo immediately attacked the motorcycle thieves, and also toppled the two-wheeler onto the ground.During the tussle, the motorcycle rider attacked Rasika with a sharp weapon.The victim of the mugging attempt detailed her ordeal to News 1st's Naveksha Gunasekera who visited the scene of the crime on Wednesday (21)."A motorcycle crossed my

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The 'National Council' decided to form two sub-committees related to national policies and economic stabilization at the inaugural meeting held with the participation of the ruling party and the opposition.The purpose of setting up the Sub-Committee on National Policy is to set the common priorities of Parliament to guide the formulation of medium and long-term national policies. Also, the purpose of establishing the Sub-Committee on Economic Stabilization is to reach agreement on the short- and medium-term programs related to economic stabilization.These decisions were taken at the inaugural meeting of the 'National Council' held at the Parliament complex on Thursday (29) under the chairmanship of Speaker  Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena. Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Leader of the House Minister Susil Premajayantha, Chief Government Whip Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella, Minister  Tiran Alas were presented for the meeting.In addition, Members of Parliament Asanka Navaratne, Rauf Hakeem, Rishad Bathiudeen, Mano Ganesan, Palani Digambaram, Jeevan Thondaman, Sisira Jayakodi, Namal Rajapaksa, Johnston Fernando, Sagara Kariyawasam, Ali Sabri Rahim, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Vajira Abeywardena, Sivaneshthurai Chandrakanthan, Champika Ranawaka and several members of Parliament were present.Secretary General of Parliament Mr. Dhammika Dasanayake was also present at this meeting.Prime Minister Hon.

WILMINGTON, Del. - A high school athlete turned hero. He didn’t hesitate to act when his opponent suffered an emergency. He runs cross country and he’s a wrestler, but on that race day, the athlete in him took a back seat to the genuine human being that he is."It could have been a way worse situation if I didn’t stop, so it didn’t matter about the race, at all," Zakary Ettien said.

PHILADELPHIA - A candlelight prayer vigil was held for victims of a deadly quintuple shooting that erupted following a joint scrimmage at Roxborough High School on Tuesday. Community members and loved ones of the victim's gathered at Gorgas Park where local clergy members lead prayers and remembrance for 14-year-old Nicolas Elizalde.Elizalde, according to police, was killed when a group of gunman unleashed over 60 shots on a group walking on Pechin Street Tuesday afternoon. Four other teens were hurt in the hail of gunfire."As a mom its terrifying, you don’t think it's going to happen in your own backyard, but when it does you have a whole different perspective on how quick a life can be taken," Dyann Berry said.RELATED COVERAGEThe Philadelphia Police Department shared disturbing surveillance video of the shooting that showed a group of gunman get out of a light-colored SUV and open fire. According to police, one of the shooters stood over a victim and continued to fire his weapon, but the gun had run out of bullets.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – UN Special Rapporteur Clément Nyaletsossi VOULE for Freedom of Association says that they are very concerned with the declaration of

COLOMBO (News 1st) – On a day when a father sacrificed his life to feed his children, and multiple robberies were reported across the country, a proposal was submitted to the Parliament regarding the privileges and benefits enjoyed by the parliamentarians and ministers. One of the proposals was presented to the Cabinet by the President and the Minister of Justice. The proposal states that the parliamentarians whose houses and offices were attacked during the period from the 31st of march to the 22nd of June have been unable to carry out their duty to the country since then. Therefore the proposal suggests compensating 50% of the estimated loss until the full compensation is paid. The proposal also requested the permission of the cabinet to release funds for this from the treasury. Meanwhile, instructions were issued recently to provide the necessary facilities for MPs who function as chairmen of District Coordinating Committees. A letter sent by the Secretary to the president to the secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils, and Local Government states that chairmen of District Coordinating Committees should be allocated an official vehicle and be given a fuel allocation of 300 liters. The letter states that in addition to this, they must be provided with a staff allocation of 7 members and also an office within the District Secretariat. The staff of the Chairman of the District Coordination Committee includes 4 development officers already attached to the district secretariat, a personal assistant, an office assistant, and a driver. 16 MPs from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna function as the Heads of the District Coordination Committees.

(With inputs from ANI)

COLOMBO (News 1st) – More details have surfaced about a headless corpse that was dragged away by a crocodile in Akuressa, in Sri Lanka's south.The presence of Crocodiles in Hulandawa, Akuressa doesn't usually shock the local residents, however, what they saw in the Nilwala River on Wednesday (28) evening, had sent shivers down their spines.Residents of Pathovita in Hulandawa were shocked when they saw this crocodile dragging the headless corpse of a man in the Nilwala river. The crocodile with a headless corpse between its teeth had attempted to come ashore on Wednesday (28) evening, however, it went swam back into the depths of the river after seeing a large crowd on the river bank.Attempts by the area residents to locate the body on Thursday (29) were unsuccessful. The area residents identified the clothes on the corpse being dragged around by the crocodile as those belonging to Palanisamy Aarumugam who was reported missing on Wednesday (28).Palanisamy a father of two was a daily wage earner at a Katupol Plantation. Since his daily income of between  700 to 800 rupees was not sufficient to feed his children he had taken up fishing to make ends meet.What is even more unfortunate was that he had not gone to work on Wednesday (28) due to an injury, and decided to go fishing as he had no other way to feed his children, since his wife too had left them.Arumugam who went fishing to feed his kids never came back.Arumugam was well aware of the threat posed by crocodiles in the river but was desperate as he had no other way to feed his children. The loss of this single parent has now left two small children all alone in this world, with no one to take care of them.