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Stranded pod of whales may have lost course – Marine Biologist

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By Ifham Nizam

The pod of whales, which beached at Panadura, have been identified as ‘Short-Finned Pilots’, Marine Biologist cum Ocean Educator, Dr. Asha de Vos, said.

The pod is believed to have been stranded as a result of following a desperate whale that lost its course, she noted.

Six pilot whales and one dolphin died after more than 100 mammals beached at Panadura on Tuesday.

Wildlife Department Director-General Chandana Sooriyabandara said the Navy, fisher community, wildlife activists, coastguards and police helped in the task to push back the whales deeper into the ocean.

National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) officials and other state marine life protection authorities also provided assistance.

According to the Navy, the mission was augmented by 30 naval personnel, an Inshore Patrol Craft, a group of 30 Coast Guard personnel, lifesaving boat, six naval personnel attached to the Rapid Response Relief and Rescue Unit, Kalutara with two lifesaving boats.

On the request of Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, jet skis given by a local water sports club were also used to pull the sea mammals deeper into the ocean.

Those who joined the rescue mission did everything within their power to manage the animals that were between 3-5.5m (10-18 feet), weighing 1000-3000 kilos. The animals were fatigued and stressed, they were splashing their tails around, which was risky for the people in the water, Dr. de Vos said.

“It was difficult for the men (who were also fatigued) to turn them upright against the crashing waves and to direct them into the surf and move them beyond their own height of water. If you’ve never been in this situation, please don’t be quick to judge,” she further said.

As I have explained on earlier occasions, whales breathe from their blowholes located at the top of their heads. The rescuers had to ensure the airways remained unblocked while trying to keep the animals upright, but it was hard. The waves kept tossing the animals and the people’, she noted.

A senior Department of Wildlife Conservation official said initial investigations suggested that the mammals were stranded due to sea currents or a change in their normal habits.

However, the Department also said that they had found the recent deaths on Olive Ridley Sea Turtles was due to foreign bodies entering their lungs.

“We fear that the recent oil spill may be one of the major reasons and there may be also some connections when it comes to pilot whales adopting an unusual routine,” an official said.

The Department had sent body samples and the report is expected in February 2021. The wildlife authorities will also conduct tests through veterinarians, the official noted.



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Committees with accountable district-level officials to be appointed to resolve Human-Elephant Conflict

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President Anura Kumara Disanayake instructed relevant officials to swiftly implement a formal mechanism to resolve the human-elephant conflict, which significantly impacts both the rural economy and people’s lives.

The President issued these directives during a discussion on resolving the human-elephant conflict, held this  (20) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat.

During the discussion, particular attention was paid to the districts most affected by the human-elephant conflict, including Anuradhapura, Puttalam, Polonnaruwa, Ampara, Hambantota, Monaragala, Kurunegala, Badulla and Trincomalee. The respective District Secretaries presented the specific issues in their districts to the President.

Discussions also covered existing vacancies within the Department of Wildlife, vehicle requirements and the challenges faced in carrying out their duties.

The President emphasised the need to streamline the mechanism for resolving the human-elephant conflict and highlighted the importance of implementing this programme in close collaboration with the public.

Accordingly, the President instructed that committees comprising accountable officials from the relevant districts be appointed within the next month to carry out these activities.

The President also directed that retired officers be recruited on a contract basis to fill current vacancies in the Department of Wildlife. As an immediate measure, he instructed officials to assign Civil Security Department officers to the Department of Wildlife with specific training and to enact relevant legislation for this purpose.

Furthermore, the President instructed that the ongoing joint operations by the Police, other security forces and the Department of Wildlife to resolve the human-elephant conflict be made more systematic and efficient.

The event was attended by Professor Chandana Abeyrathne, Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government; Ananda Wijepala, Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs; T.B. Sarath, Deputy Minister of Housing; Aruna Jayasekara, Deputy Minister of Defence; Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the President; Ranjan Marasinghe, Director General of Wildlife; Major General Lasantha Rodrigo, Army Commander; Priyantha Weerasuriya, Acting Inspector General of Police; as well as District Secretaries and other government officials.

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Students from Thambuttegama Central College visit President’s House

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A group of students from Thambuttegama Central College, Anuradhapura, visited the Presidential Secretariat and President’s House this (20) afternoon  during their annual educational tour.

The students had the opportunity to participate in the ‘Vision’ programme, an initiative for schoolchildren jointly organised by the Presidential Secretariat, the Ministry of Education, and the Department of Communication of the Parliament of Sri Lanka.

After touring the Old Parliament building within the Presidential Secretariat, the students were also briefed on parliamentary history.

The college’s teaching staff and students were also informed about the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ programme, which operates under a concept by President Anura Kumara Disanayake, as well as the role of the executive and the rule of law.

During the visit, the Legal Advisor to the President J.M. Wijebandara symbolically demonstrated the value of environmental protection by presenting a valuable sapling to the school.

The event was attended by Senior Additional Secretary to the President K.N.M. Kumarasinghe, Deputy Director of the Tri-Forces Security Affairs Coordinating Unit Colonel Dhananjaya Senarath, Deputy Principal of Thambuttegama Central College M.G. Asanka Wijesuriya, along with teaching staff and other officials.

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Foreign Direct Investment records 90% Increase in First Quarter of 2025

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The Board of Investment (BOI) of Sri Lanka has successfully increased Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) by US$96 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared with the same period in 2024.

This was disclosed today (20) during a progress review meeting of the Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, chaired by President Anura Kumara Disanayake at the Presidential Secretariat.

BOI officials also noted that, relative to the first quarter of 2024, domestic investment rose by US$21 million, while export income increased by US$176 million during the first quarter of 2025. In total, Sri Lanka has attracted US$4,669 million in investment proposals thus far in 2025.

The meeting also focused on the issues and challenges associated with attracting investment to the country and discussed potential strategies to address them.
Addressing the gathering, President Anura Kumara Disanayake stated that the Board of Investment holds a pivotal role in enhancing the national economy and improving the living standards of the rural population.

He stressed that opportunities to attract investment in traditional sectors are becoming increasingly limited and therefore the nation must identify new areas for investment, an endeavour that falls under the BOI’s mandate.

The President further noted that Sri Lanka has attracted only around US$22 billion in investment since 1978. In comparison to other countries in the region, he stated, Sri Lanka must advance rapidly, referencing Vietnam’s achievement of securing US$23 billion in investment in 2022 alone.

He went on to state that the BOI should prioritise the expansion of investment in the services sector and proactively seek new investment opportunities, rather than focusing solely on recapturing missed ones.

The event was attended by senior officials of the Board of Investment, including  Duminda Hulangamuwa, Senior Advisor to the President on Economic Affairs;  Arjuna Herath, Chairman of the Board of Investment; and Ms Renuka Weerakone, Acting Director General of the Board of Investment.

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