News
Public Security Minister asks SLPP to hold disciplinary inquiry against MP Jagath Kumara

By Norman Palihawadane
Public Security Minister Rear Admiral (retd) Sarath Weerasekera yesterday said that he had asked the SLPP top brass to conduct a disciplinary inquiry against SLPP MP Jagath Kumara.
Minister Weerasekera told The Island that MP Jagath Kumara had resigned from the post of Padukka Regional Co-ordinating Committee Chairman for not appointing an OIC of his choice to the Padukka Police Station. “This I cannot do because I am against politicising the police service,” the Minister said.
The Minister said that the MP had contacted him soon after the OIC of Padukka Police was transferred out and requested to cancel that transfer order. “The OIC was transferred because there are several charges against him including the one that he kept two females in the station without a woman police officer. He had been removed on the recommendations from the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security and the IGP, the minister said. MP Jagath Kumara had made requests both verbally and in writing to appoint an OIC known to him. “It is nothing but politicising the police service and that is the last thing I want to see as the Minister of Public Security. Thereafter the MP held a press conference criticising me therefore I asked the SLPP leaders to conduct a disciplinary inquiry against the MP,” the Minister said.
MP Jagath Kumara addressing the media in Colombo yesterday said that he was not afraid of Weerasekera’s call for a disciplinary inquiry.
MP Kumara urged the minister not to push him into a situation where he would have to come out with what he did not want to disclose.
MP Kumara resigned from his post as Padukka Regional Co-ordinating Committee Chairman in protest against the appointment of a new OIC to the Padukka Police Station.
MP Kumara said that the appointment was politically motivated, and that the new OIC was a close associate of Energy Minister Gamini Lokuge.
MP Kumara said that he had his loyalty to the government, stating that when former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had lost the presidential election, it was he who had organised a meeting in Tangalle fearlessly.
“When I organized that meeting, where were all these Ministers? Were they hiding in fear that their corruption cases would be taken up again?” he asked.
MP Kumara said that it was those who did not know the history of the SLPP made baseless allegations against him and called for disciplinary action against him.
The MP said that the teacher-principal protests would not have gone so far if some of the protesters had not been arrested and packed off to quarantine centres in faraway places.
Latest News
South Korean airline bans emergency seats after plane door opens

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

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.
Latest News
GCE Ordinary Level examination commences on Monday (29)

The General Certificate of Education (Ordinary Level) examination 2022 (2023) will commence on Monday (29).
472,553 candidates have applied to to sit this years examination which will be held at 3568 examination centers
The examination will conclude on 8th June 2023
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