News
NWSDB uses bowsers to provide water to 55,000 families
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The government is distributing drinking water to 55,000 families in 52 Divisional Secretariat areas, using bowsers, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) said on Thursday (17.) The NWSDB added that many areas in the southern province were facing many drinking water issues.
Wasantha Illangasinghe, General Manager of the NWSDB, said the Southern, North-Western, North-Central and Northern provinces had been adversely affected by the drought.
“Beliatta, Tangalle, Angunukolapelessa, Weeraketiya and a few other places in Southern province are the worst affected by drinking water shortages. We urge people to use the water sparingly. A person that uses piped water uses about 120 litres a day. However, only 40 litres are needed for cooking and drinking. We urge people to use alternative water sources if possible, to fulfill other needs,” she said.
Illangasinghe added that as the water levels dropped in rivers and other water sources, the quality of water also dropped.When water levels in Kelaniya and Kalu Ganga drops, seawater comes in and increases the salinity of river water, she said.
“Algae start growing in tanks when water levels drop. Sediment also gets mixed with drinking water,” she said.
The Met Department has said that there won’t be any significant rain until October.
Athula Karunanayake, Director, Meteorological Department said that there would be significant rain from October to December. There would be less rain again from December to April, he said. About 37,000 acres of paddy land had been destroyed by the drought, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said.
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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