News
Kiriella flays govt. over using Bogambara as a quarantine facility
By Saman Indrajith
Having COVID-19 infected prisoners in the old Bogambara prison premises in Kandy was like keeping a ticking time bomb in the city, Chief Opposition Whip and Kandy District MP Lakshman Kiriella told Parliament yesterday (18).
At the time for Notices of Motions and Orders of the Day, MP Kiriella, with the permission of the Chair, said that he had warned Bogambara prisons now used as a quarantine centre that it would lead to the transmission the virus but the authorities had not heeded his warning. “There was an incident last night. Some of the infected inmates escaped. The guards opened fire and one person died and another was admitted to hospital. Some others have made good their escape. This is a dangerous situation. As I once said this is nothing but a ticking time bomb.
“We removed prisoners from Bogambara and started developing the facility as a cultural centre. After the change of government the project was suspended. After the detection of COVID cases in prisons, the infected persons were brought to the former Bogambara prison, which It is in the heart of the Kandy city.
There are around 50 people working within the prison premises, and they come to the city to buy their provisions. Soon there would be a massive number of infections in Kandy. On the other hand, it is the city where the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha is kept. The location of a quarantine centre there is improper. Please shift this quarantine centre.”
Kurunegala District SJB MP Nalin Bandara said that the Bogambara prison buildings were more than 200 years old and posed a serious threat to the lives of those held there. “I, as a deputy minister, participated in the Bogambara prison development project. Some sections of the building are on the verge of collapse. We wanted to restore them owing to its architectural and historical value, but before the project got underway, there was a change of government. So, the threat of buildings collapsing is still there. In addition to the health hazard, there is a threat to the lives of those being held in that place. We hope the government will take necessary action to avert a disaster waiting to happen.?
Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) MURASAME arrived at the Port of Colombo on a replenishment visit this morning (22 Mar 25).
The visiting ship was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in compliance with naval traditions.
JMSDF MURASAME is a 151m long Destroyer commanded by Commander HAYAKAWA Masahiro. Meanwhile, she is manned by a crew of 200.
During her stay in Colombo, crew members of the ship are expected to visit some tourist attractions in the city of Colombo and the ship is scheduled to depart the island on 25 Mar 25.
It has been reported that two persons riding a motorcycle were killed in a shooting incident that took place around 11.45pm on Friday [21] night , in front of the southern entrance of the Devundara Sri Vishnu Devalaya, on Sinhasana Road.
The unidentified gunmen, who arrived in a van, opened fire using a T-56 assault rifle and 9 mm firearms before fleeing the scene. The police have recovered 39 T-56 bullet casings, two T-56 rounds of live ammunition, a T-56 magazine, three 9 mm bullet casings, and one 9mm live ammunition.
The van suspected to have been used by the shooters was found abandoned and set on fire on a side road about 800 meters from the crime scene.
The two deceased victims have been identified as Tikira Hennedige Yomesh Nadishan and Marakkala Manage Pasidu Tharuka, both residents of Sinhasana Road, Devinuwara.
Matale Dirstrict SJB MP Rohini Kumari Wijerathna yesterday tabled a list in Parliament naming 1,300 members, leaders, trade unionists, and activists of the UNP, who were allegedly assassinated by the JVP. The list was submitted during a parliamentary session as part of the government’s ongoing effort to document victims of political violence.
Along with the names of the victims, MP Wijerathna also introduced over 900 family members of the alleged victims, providing further context to the extent of the violence.
Speaking during the session, MP Wijerathna stated, “Child soldiers were recruited by the JVP even before the LTTE. ‘Kantale Bonikki,’ a 13-year-old child was used to murder a 70-year-old female UNP supporter.” She accused the JVP of using children to kill numerous UNP members during the JVP’s second insurgency.
The MP said that names not included in the current list would be submitted during the upcoming “Batalanda Debate” in April.
MP Wijerathna invited the public, via her Facebook page to submit further details on family members affected by political violence to ensure their inclusion in the extended record.
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