News

The National Patriotic Movement will initiate an island-wide ‘Manel Mal’ programme tomorrow to boost the morale of the security forces and to safeguard villages under terrorist threat.

The ‘Manel Mal Week’ will be from July 17 to 21. A badge would be available at Rs. 10 and the proceeds are to be utilized for the betterment of the families of the security forces and villages under Tiger threats.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is expected to inaugurate the programme.

The fire alarm system in the Parliament complex failed to function during an emergency evacuation drill last Thursday.

Sirens from the three fire engines were sounded as a substitute but many staff members did not hear the sirens and remained in the building. The fire alarm system has been malfunctioning since 2003, when a similar situation arose during a drill. It has not been rectified yet. The matter was highlighted again in May this year by the Sergeant-at-Arms but there has been no corrective action so far.

The Parliament complex has a staff of over 1,000. On the days of sittings, the number exceeds 1,500.

The drill was held to prepare the parliamentary staff to evacuate in case of an emergency within the four storied complex.

Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has asked for an explanation from Lanka IOC after a person complained that his brand new Mazda car broke down as a result of petrol pumped being contaminated with water.

The car owner Monil Jayasekara said he sought LIOC compensation but it had refused saying that there was no evidence to prove that they were responsible for the contamination.

Mr. Monil’s car had broken down shortly after he had pumped petrol from a leading petrol shed in Colombo on June 3.

When The Sunday Times earlier contacted IOC Managing Director in Sri Lanka K. Ramakrishnan, he stated that an investigation had revealed that there was no evidence to prove that they were responsible for the contamination.

Another suspect wanted by Police regarding the Brave Hearts College, Ampitiya School Development Fund financial irregularities is absconding and has reportedly left his quarters in Kandy.

The Vice Principal of the College, Mr. Jayawardene was arrested in this connection and remanded by Kandy Chief Magistrate Harsha Setunge on a 'B' report filed by the Police Special Crimes Investigation Bureau.

The former Principal Bandara Kulatunga, who until his arrest was an officer in the Education Department, was earlier remanded by the Kandy Chief Magistrate till July 18. He was also the president of the School Development Society.

Following further investigations, the Vice Principal too was taken into custody.SCIB Officer-in-Charge IP Sena de Alwis conducted investigations.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that an investigation into another school in Kandy had unveiled a similar incident where monies had been spent irregularly while its Principal was in an acting capacity.

The details where nearly rupees sixteen lakhs had been allegedly spent on buildings without prior approval from the Education Department are reportedly in the hands of the audit officials.

Following the detection of two powerful claymore mines at Pushpadana Mawatha-Lake Lane junction in Kandy in proximity to Minister Keheliya Rambukwella’s residence, sniffer dogs led police and Army personnel to a house at Mahaiyawa from where eight persons were detained for questioning.

According to SSP E.M. Gunatilleke Banda, the mines are of the PE 3A type normally used by the Sri Lanka Air Force.

DIG Nimal Mediweke is heading investigations.