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10,000 KN95 masks donated to Health Ministry

Published

6 years ago

2020/11/3

Minister Pavitra Wanniarachchi receiving a token of the donation (pic courtesy Health Ministry)

With the vision of “Protecting and Improving the Health of People Around the World”, the active B. Braun Sharing Expertise, Sri Lanka & Maldives yesterday (02) donated 10,000 KN95 masks worth one million rupees.

Director of B. Braun Sharing Expertise, Sri Lanka & Maldives Pradeep Amarawardana and its Head of Division Samatha Senevirathne handed over the stock of masks to Minister of Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi at the Ministry of Health yesterday.

Receiving the donation, the Health Minister stated that the donation was greatly appreciated.

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Suspect arrested with over 2kg of ‘Ice’, 510g of Kush

Published

2 mins ago

2026/10/14

Sahan Weerasooriya

by Norman Palihawadane

A 32-year-old man has been arrested with over two kilos of crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as ‘Ice’, and 510 grams of Kush, in Kuligoda.

Officers of the Aluthgama Divisional Anti-Vice Unit arrested the suspect during a search of a residence in Kuligoda on Monday (12).

Police seized 2kg and 140g of ‘Ice’, 510g of Kush and a weighing scale allegedly used to weigh narcotics.

The suspect, a resident of Kuligoda, was handed over to the Ambalangoda Police for further investigations.

News

Son of ‘Middeniya Kajja’ arrested with foreign-made firearm

Published

2 mins ago

2026/10/14

Sahan Weerasooriya

by Norman Palihawadane

The son of Vidanagamage Aruna Priyantha, alias ‘Middeniya Kajja’, has been arrested with a foreign-manufactured firearm during a raid in Weeraketiya.

The arrest was made on Monday (12) by officers of the Tangalle Divisional Crime Investigation Unit, acting on information received.

Police said a foreign-manufactured, bolt-action 12-bore firearm had been recovered after it had been concealed inside a house in the Yaggasmulla area of Weeraketiya.

The suspect is the son of ‘Middeniya Kajja’, who was killed, along with two children, in a shooting incident within the Middeniya Police Division last year.

The suspect and the seized firearm have been handed over to the Weeraketiya Police for further investigations.

He would be produced before the Tangalle Magistrate’s Court, police said.

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Expedite the cleaning of Colombo’s canals and drainage systems within the next two weeks – PM instructs officials

Published

3 hours ago

2026/10/14

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya has instructed officials to expedite the cleaning of canals and drainage systems to ensure the proper flow of rainwater in anticipation of increased rainfall in the coming period. She directed that the cleaning work be completed within the next two weeks and continued regularly thereafter.

The Prime Minister made these remarks on Tuesday (13 October) while attending the Colombo District Coordinating Committee meeting held at the District Secretariat auditorium in Narahenpita.

During the meeting, officials from Divisional Secretariats, the Department of Agrarian Development and the Provincial Irrigation Department highlighted the challenges they face in cleaning drainage systems and canals. They also explained the difficulties arising from the shortage of technical officers and the preparation of plans and cost estimates. The District Coordinating Committee also reviewed the development programmes scheduled to be implemented in the Colombo District in 2026.

Officials presented details of projects under four key areas: rural road development, community empowerment, disaster management and the promotion of a sports culture. Accordingly, the 2026 Rural Road Development Programme is scheduled to be implemented in three phases. Under the first phase, road development activities will be carried out in the Divisional Secretariat Divisions of Colombo, Thimbirigasyaya, Kotte, Homagama, Padukka and Kesbewa. The second phase will cover Kesbewa, Maharagama, Dehiwala, Ratmalana, Moratuwa and Kolonnawa. Officials also reported that several projects initiated in Thimbirigasyaya, Kolonnawa and Seethawaka under the 2025 programme have already been completed.

Under the national Praja Shakthi programme aimed at eradicating poverty, an allocation of Rs. 1,117.53 million has been made for 2026. Of this amount, Rs. 1,108 million has been allocated to 13 Divisional Secretariats, with the balance earmarked for special projects. The programme provides equipment to support agriculture, freshwater fisheries and small-scale enterprises. Under disaster mitigation projects, river-cleaning activities and the development of access roads are being undertaken in Homagama, Seethawaka and Maharagama. An allocation of Rs. 4 million has been made to develop school and public sports grounds as part of efforts to foster a sports culture. In addition, allocations of Rs. 300,000 each have been provided for 39 Divisional Secretariat Divisions, with sports ground development activities being carried out in Dehiwala, Maharagama, Homagama and Thimbirigasyaya. Officials further stated that the development of temples, sports grounds and court buildings is being undertaken through the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, and the Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry of Justice.

Under the decentralised capital budget for the Colombo District, a total of 281 projects have been approved, with 184,775 beneficiary families identified. The total allocation for these projects amounts to Rs. 217.38 million, comprising Rs. 180 million in allocations for Members of Parliament and Rs. 37.38 million in allocations for National List Members of Parliament. The total estimated cost of the projects is Rs. 217.03 million.

An assessment of the physical progress of the 281 approved projects revealed that estimates are being prepared, or remain to be prepared, for eight projects, while estimates have been completed for five projects. Quotations have been called for 21 projects, nine projects are at the evaluation stage, and contracts have been awarded for 17 projects. Work has commenced on 51 projects, or they have reached up to 25% completion. Nine projects have achieved between 25% and 50% completion, seven projects between 50% and 75%, and 17 projects between 75% and 99%. A further 93 projects have been physically completed and are awaiting payment, while 44 projects have been fully completed both physically and financially. In terms of financial progress, expenditure on the projects stands at Rs. 21.647 million, with an additional Rs. 0.334 million spent on administrative costs, bringing the total expenditure to Rs. 21.981 million.

Members of Parliament Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi and Samanmali Gunasinghe, local government representatives, Colombo District Secretary Ginige Prasanna Janaka Kumara, and a number of state officials attended the meeting.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]