A woman was killed and 10 others were hospitalised following a multiple-vehicle collision at Molagoda, Kegalle, yesterday.

The accident occurred around 11.15 am when a private bus collided with several other vehicles, in a chain-crash involving about seven vehicles.

The injured were rushed to hospital. Police said several of the vehicles involved in the accident belonged to a driver training school.

Police have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident.

by Norman Palihawadane

A special police investigation has been launched to identify prison officers allegedly providing assistance to notorious organised crime figure Salintha Madushan Perera, alias ‘Commando Salintha’, who is currently being held at the Boossa High Security Prison, police and prison sources said yesterday.

Investigators are probing allegations that several prison officers have helped the inmate carry out activities from within the prison, including the use of mobile phones to coordinate illegal operations.

The investigation follows a recent search operation conducted by the Police STF at the Boossa Prison, during which several mobile phones, allegedly in Salintha’s possession, were recovered.

Authorities are also looking into allegations that a senior prison official attempted to destroy evidence by deleting information stored on the seized devices following the detection.

Investigators are further examining an incident in which a letter, allegedly written by Salintha to underworld figure Kanjipani Imran, was intercepted by prison officials after it had been handed over to Salintha’s mother during a visit. The letter reportedly contained details of alleged future plans and drug trafficking activities.

The latest investigation comes amid previous concerns over inmates operating criminal networks from within the Boossa High Security Prison. Nine high-profile prisoners, including Samantha Kumara Vithanage, alias  ‘Wele Suda’; Nedungoda Nirmala Prasanna, alias ‘Backhoe Saman’; and Chaminda Ravi Jayanath, alias ‘Dematagoda Chaminda’;  were previously transferred to a high-security facility at the Welisara Naval Base after information emerged that they had allegedly continued directing criminal activities and drug operations while behind bars.

Prison officials have called for swift action against any officers found to have granted special privileges, or protection, to drug traffickers and organised criminals, within the prison system.

by Norman Palihawadane and Chaminda Silva

The annual Pongal festival of the Arumuga Sri Lakshmi Sametha Narasimha Hindu Temple in Poonthottam, Vavuniya, was celebrated in grand style this year, with elephants joining the procession for a rare and colourful spectacle.

The procession, organised by the temple’s organising committee on June 21, drew a large gathering of devotees and members of the public. The ceremonial parade commenced from the temple premises, travelled through the streets of Vavuniya town, and later returned to the temple.

The participation of elephants in a Hindu temple festival is considered a rare occurrence, adding a special significance to this year’s Pongal celebrations.

Devotees took part in various acts of religious devotion and penance during the festival to fulfil their vows, including body piercing, being suspended from iron hooks, and rolling along the ground on their way to the temple.

The celebrations featured traditional rituals and attracted a large number of Hindu devotees, who gathered to seek blessings and participate in the annual religious event.

Text and Pic by Dinasena Rathugamage