News
Govt. to revive colonial-era waterways to manage Colombo traffic congestion
Parliamentary Sectoral Oversight Committee on Transport and Energy is planning to revive colonial time transportation method of using waterways as a remedy to reduce the rush-hour traffic congestion.
When the Committee met with its Chairman MP Nalaka Bandara Kottegoda presiding, he said that although there had been discussions on how to move people through waterways for a long time, no formal system had been prepared for this.
It was pointed out that the existing waterways could be used to reduce the traffic congestion.
The Committee pointed out that it was important to prepare a suitable system and instructed the officials to establish an institution to regulate the transport of goods via waterways. The Chair also instructed the officials to inform the committee of the progress.
Records indicate that there was a functioning system of canals dating back to times of King Vira Parakrama Bahu VIII of Kotte, (15th century) connecting the ancient sea port of Negombo.
The Dutch built a canal between Negombo and Maha Oya for transportation. As per records there was an old Negombo canal that was originally built by the Sinhala Kings in the 15th century, and then rebuilt by the Portuguese in the 17 Century and then by the Dutch.
Gavin Hamilton, British Agent in 1802 started a new canal, parallel to the Dutch Canal now known as the Hamilton Canal.
It has been reported that former Inspector General of Police (IGP) C.D. Wickramaratne has been found dead at his residence in Athurugiriya this morning (17)
it is suspected that he may have taken his own life.
A heated argument broke out between Jaffna District MP Archchuna Ramanathan and Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar during the Kilinochchi District Coordination Committee meeting held yesterday (16).
A video footage of the incident shows the MP and the Minister engaging in a heated verbal exchange, following which a physical confrontation appeared to develop when the Minister attempted to grab files reportedly in the possession of MP Ramanathan.
“If you lay a hand on me, I’ll lay a hand on you too… got it?” Ramanathan is heard telling the Minister during the exchange.
Police and officials present at the meeting intervened to prevent the situation from escalating further.
The circumstances that led to the confrontation were not immediately clear.
Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has filed an intervening petition before the Court of Appeal in connection with a petition filed by former head of the State Intelligence Service, Major General (Retired) Suresh Sallay, challenging his arrest and detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act over investigations into the Easter Sunday terror attacks.
The Cardinal has sought permission from the court to make submissions in relation to Sallay’s petition and requested that it be dismissed.
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