News

Daya Gamage’s company stripped of Central Expressway contract

Published

2 years ago

2021/06/1

The Cabinet terminated the contract of former UNP Minister Daya Gamage’s construction company named ‘Olympus’ over what the government called a deliberate delay in completing the second phase of the Central Expressway. The delay smacked of a bid to sabotage the expressway project, Chief Government Whip Highways Minister Johnston Fernando said yesterday.

“The previous government awarded construction contracts to its cronies. A construction company owned by former Minister Gamage was awarded the contract to construct the second phase of the Central Expressway. The company kept delaying the work in spite of our repeated requests and reminders. We instructed them to expedite the construction of this section. We cannot open the section from Mirigama to Kurunegala without completing the construction of this particular section.”

Minister Fernando said that even though an additional sum had been paid, Olympus had not done any work. “We will terminate the contract awarded to Olympus company owned by the former minister for deliberately sabotaging the Expressway construction work”, he added.

As per the terms of the contract between the ministry and the company, the ministry had very few options when the company deliberately delayed the process, the minister said. “One of them is was institute legal action against the company for breach of contract. It seems that was their intention was to get us to file a case so that te road work could be done until the case was over.”

Gamage was not immediately available for comment.

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South Korean airline bans emergency seats after plane door opens

Published

12 hours ago

2023/05/28

Priyan

South Korea’s Asiana Airlines has stopped selling some emergency exit row seats following an accident in which a passenger opened an emergency exit door midair causing panic on board.

The incident took place on an A321-200 plane, which was carrying nearly 200 passengers, as it approached the runway at Daegu International Airport, about 240km (150 miles) southeast of Seoul. The plane landed safely but several passengers were hospitalised. There were no serious injuries or damage.

The airline told the AFP news agency on Sunday the emergency exit seats – 31A and 26A – on its 14 A321-200 jets would no longer be offered for sale. “As a safety precaution, this measure will apply even if the flights are full,” it added. It is however unclear how the move might stop passengers seated elsewhere on the plane from attempting to open the emergency door.

The man, in his 30s, was arrested by authorities in Daegu for allegedly breaking aviation security laws. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. He told Daegu police that he had been under a lot of stress after losing his job recently and that he opened the door because he wanted to get off quickly after feeling suffocated, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported on Saturday.

Video footage apparently taken by a person on board and posted on social media showed passengers’ hair being whipped about by air rushing into the cabin when the emergency door opened.

It is still unclear how Lee was able to open the emergency exit door mid-flight.

Jin Seong-hyun, a former Korean Air cabin safety official, said as far as he knew, this case was unprecedented, although passengers have opened emergency exits without authorisation while planes were on the ground.

A South Korean transport ministry official said it was possible to open emergency exits at or near ground level because the pressures inside and outside the cabin were similar.

(Aljazeera)

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Heat Index at Caution level in Northern, North-Central, North-western and Eastern provinces and Monaragala and Hambanthota districts

Published

16 hours ago

2023/05/28

Priyan

Heat index Advisory Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre At 07.30 a.m. 28 May 2023, valid for 28 May 2023

Heat index, the temperature felt on the human body is expected to increase up to ‘Caution’ level at some places in Northern, North-Central, North-western and Eastern provinces and Monaragala and Hambanthota districts.