News
Expert: Milleniya jackals may have got rabies from dogs
By Ifham Nizam and Norman Palihawadana
The jackals with rabies in Milleniya, Horana must have contracted the disease from dogs, an expert says. Veterinarians would inoculate the dogs in the area, Director -Wildlife at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya, Dr. Tharaka Prasad told The Island.
Dr. Prasad said: “We have found dogs with rabies in the area and the jackals must have contracted rabies from them. We are confident that the vaccination programme could be completed within two weeks. We have ruled out the use of a rabies bait vaccine; bait consists of a sachet containing a rabies vaccine, for the jackals as it would lead to other complications.”
Dr. Prasad said palm cats, mongooses, cats and other mammals were also prone to rabies and anyone bitten by such animals should be treated immediately. The Medical Officer of Health in the area who carrying awareness programme and hospitals staff are also working around the clock,” Dr. Prasad said.
Rabies spreads in two ways, genetic and domestic and once the virus reaches the saliva of an animal, it dies within 10 days, Dr. Prasad said. He added that a four member team headed by him had been to Milleniya on a fact finding mission on Tuesday night.
The people in the area had also been requested to contact the Department via hotline 1992 and 1991 to bring the situation under control.
SSP Sanjaya Irasinghe told The Island that there were around 20 jackals and some of them may be infected.
Policemen and wildlife officers have been deployed in the area to protect the villagers. “Following the death of a girl and a cow after they were bitten by a pack of rabid foxes there, police have deployed teams of policemen to guard the area day and night,” Irasinghe said.
Police have also asked residents not to send their farm animals into the scrub land for grazing.
The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Dr. Harini Amarasuriya is on an official visit to Paris, France to participate in the high-level segment of the International Expert Conference on ’An Integrated and Sustainable Approach to Safeguarding the World Heritage Property of the Sacred City of Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka and Associated Living Heritage’ which was to be held at UNESCO Headquarters today [Tuesday 1 April], with the participation of the Director-General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay.
The Conference, organized by UNESCO in partnership with Sri Lanka, brings together leading international experts to discuss sustainable strategies for the conservation of Anuradhapura, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of immense cultural and historical significance.
On the sidelines of the Conference, the Prime Minister is also scheduled to meet senior interlocutors of the French Government to discuss bilateral cooperation and areas of mutual interest.
The Delegation of the Prime Minister includes the Minister of Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Hiniduma Sunil Senevi.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) BUNGO and ETAJIMA arrived at the port of Colombo on a goodwill visit this morning (01 Apr 25).
The visiting ships were welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in compliance with naval traditions.
The 141m long JMSDF BUNGO is an Uraga-Class Minesweeper Tender commanded by Commander TANAKA Koji and the ship is manned by a crew of 125.
Meanwhile, JMSDF Etajima, a 65-meter-long Minesweeper, is under the command of Commander Oda Takayuki and operates with a crew of 54 personnel.
During the stay in the island, crew members of the ships will explore some tourist attractions within the city of Colombo. The ships are scheduled to set sail from Colombo on 04 Apr.
“You and your families will be eliminated”
By Norman Palihawadane and Hemantha Randun
A full-scale investigation has been launched to track down an underworld character, ‘Navy Dinesh,’ a key accomplice of Ganemulle Sanjeewa, for issuing death threats over the phone to three police officers, including the Gampaha HQI, Crime Branch OIC, of the same police station, and others.
Navy Dinesh is believed to have fled the country.
According to police sources, threats were issued following the arrest of Navy Dinesh’s father and brother in connection with a drug trafficking case.
Phone analysis reports have confirmed that the calls originated from Dubai and France.
Following the murder of Ganemulle Sanjeewa, Navy Dinesh assumed leadership of the underworld gang he had previously been involved with.
Navy Dinesh contacted the Gampaha HQI, the OIC of the Crime Branch, and the investigating police constable, and threatened to kill them and their family members. “You and your families will be eliminated,” he said.
A special police team had been assigned to investigate the matter, and a report has been submitted to the courts, police sources said.
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