News

Public Security Minister flays JVP for spreading extremist views

Published

2 years ago

2021/03/22

By Norman Palihawadane

Public Security Minister Rear Admiral (Retd.) Sarath Weerasekera yesterday said that there was reason to believe that the JVP, too, was promoting extremist ideologies of the Zahran Hashim’s group.

Speaking at a ceremony held at the Maligakanda Mahabodhi Vihara to mark the 147th anniversary of the Police Department, the Minister said the JVP’s Bimal Ratnayake had recently stated that those who worship statues should be called tribesmen.

“It was Zahran Hashim’s group that propagated such extremist views. They were the ones who damaged the Buddha statutes, and Ratnayake’s statement tallies with their ideology. So, we suspect that they shared same views. In addition Mohammad Yusuf Ibrahim, a key suspect in the Easter Sunday bombings, was on the JVP’s National List. Ibrahim has mentioned many names. We are proceeding with our investigations on information divulged by the suspects. We also have information that the JVP-led National People’s Power and Sri Lanka Jamaat-e-Islami signed an MoU when the NPP was formed in 2019. The extremist Islamic organisation is one among those banned for their links with Zahran’s group.”

Minister Weerasekera said that 3,170 policemen had died in the line of duty, and they included those who made the supreme sacrifice during the war against terrorism.

Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security Maj. Gen. Jagath Alwis, Western Province Senior DIG Deshabandu Tennakoon and senior police officers were present on the occasion.

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South Korean airline bans emergency seats after plane door opens

Published

6 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

9 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.