The Irrigation Department has warned of possible minor floods in low-lying areas along the Kuda Ganga and Maguru Ganga following heavy rainfall in their upstream catchment areas.

The Irrigation Department said considerable rainfall had been recorded in the Kuda Ganga sub-basin of the Kalu Ganga by 9.30 am yesterday (20).

An analysis of the prevailing rainfall and water levels at hydrological stations along the Kalu Ganga indicates the possibility of minor floods in low-lying areas of the Kuda Ganga and Maguru Ganga valleys, particularly in the Bulathsinhala, Madurawala and Palindanuwara Divisional Secretariat divisions. The Department has warned that roads running through the flood plains of the two rivers are particularly vulnerable to inundation.

Residents in low-lying areas and motorists using roads in the affected areas are urged to exercise caution. Disaster management authorities have also been requested to take necessary precautionary measures.

A group of estate-sector youth staged a silent protest in Hatton yesterday (20), calling for the release of a Sri Lankan national who has reportedly been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia.

The protest, held at the Malliappu Junction, was organised by the Federation of Hindu Organisations, Sri Lanka.

The protesters called for clemency for Anojan Sivarasa, a Sri Lankan working in Saudi Arabia, who has reportedly been sentenced to death over a social media comment relating to an incident involving a dog during a Hindu pilgrimage from Jaffna to Kataragama.

The comment was reportedly deemed offensive to Islam and a religious leader. Anojan subsequently posted a video on social media apologising for the remarks.

According to information presented at the protest, Saudi authorities arrested Anojan after determining that the Facebook comment had insulted Islam and a religious leader. He was initially sentenced to five years in prison and fined three million Saudi riyals.

MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam has said that the sentence had subsequently been increased to death.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that special diplomatic intervention is being made to secure Anojan’s release.

By Norman Palihawadane

Three Thai nationals were arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake yesterday (20) for allegedly attempting to smuggle ‘Kush’ and hashish into the country after arriving from Bangkok.

The arrests were made in two separate operations conducted by officers of the Police Narcotics Bureau at the airport’s arrival terminal yesterday morning.

In the first operation, a 38-year-old Thai woman was arrested with 3.2 kilos of ‘Kush’ and 1.8 kilos of hashish.

In the second operation, PNB officers arrested a 31-year-old Thai woman with 1.9 kilos of ‘Kush’ and 620 grammes of hashish.

A 36-year-old Thai woman who had arrived on the same flight was also arrested for allegedly aiding and abetting the second suspect.

The PNB is conducting further investigations into the arrests.