News
Husband braves wild elephant to rescue wife and children
A daring rescue of a young wife and their three children from falling victim to a wild elephant attack was recently reported from Nagarwewa, Hambantota.
The man succeeded in saving his family but ended up badly injured, the report said.
The wife, Niluka Damayanthi (25) describing the incident said, “We lived earlier in Gonnoruwa but with those lands earmarked for elephant conservation, we were relocated here.
On this fateful day, the elephant came and put its trunk into our house around 6:30 am. As we started shouting, it smashed a wall of the house to the ground trapping us right in front of the animal which was about to attack and kill us all.
“Then my husband, Anura, jumped on to a side of the elephant to distract the animal from me and our three children. It then turned on him and attacked. He was thrown some distance and fell on the ground.
The elephant came back and smashed the rest of the walls of the house to the ground. At that time neighbours managed to scare the elephant away.
“If my husband had not bravely taken that risk, all of us would have been killed. He is receiving treatment at Hambantota District Hospital.
“We are very poor people and appeal to some benefactor to help us build a small home. My children are aged four, seven and 10 years. We are daily wage earning labourers.
“One of our children has been handed over to a temple as we can’t raise him.” If we can can have a place to live and cook with a small space to sleep, that will be more than enough,” she said.
If anyone is interested in helping this family, they can be contacted on 0719020306.
In terms of the provisions of the Establishments Code on payment of festival advance to government officers, there’s a possibility of obtaining rupees 10,000/- as an advance for celebrating festivals of Theipongal, Ramazan, Sinhala and Hindu New Year, Wesak, Deepavali, and Christmas as well as for pilgrimages (Sri Paada pilgrimage and Hajj pilgrimage).
Provisions have been given to recover the said advance in 08 installments or if required earlier without interest. It has been proposed by the Budget 2026 to increase the said festival advance up to rupees 15,000/-.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local governments to revise the relevant provisions so that the festival advance can be increased up to rupees 15,000/- .
As per the approval given by the cabinet meeting held on 02-06-2025, action is being taken at present to offer the underutilized lands/properties of the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Etate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation Company which are under the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure which have been identified under stage one to suitable investors.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Plantations and Community Infrastructure to provide following lands/properties on a lease basis to the suitable investors for optimal utilization following the prescribed procurement procedure.
• underutilized lands/properties identified under stage two owned by the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Estate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation
Company,
• The Mawarala watte land and the Tea factory 40.48 hectares in extent, located in Matara District belonging to the Tea Shakthi Fund.
• The underutilized land of 1,541 hectares in extent of Kondachchi Estate is enjoyed by the Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation.
The drafting of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has commenced with the objective of equitable distribution of the benefits of the fisheries industry and the sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture. This policy has been updated from time to time according to current requirements. However, steps have not been taken to obtain the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for that purpose.
According to the policy declaration of the present government, ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendor’ the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has been redrafted, updating the aforementioned policy in line with the economic and development objectives of the government.
The recommendations of the Department of National Planning have been received for the drafted policy.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Marine
Resources to implement the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy, integrating it with other relevant policies.
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Festival advance for government officers to be increased
Providing underutilized lands/properties to suitable investors for optimal utilization.
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