News
Tiran tells cops to stop ‘fondling’ weapons and use them to neutralise underworld
Public Security Minister Tiran Alles says that the firearms have been issued to policemen not to fondle them, but to use them as and when necessary.
Addressing a workshop held at Ratnapura on Saturday as a part of Community Police awareness programmes, Minister Alles said that he would ensure an end to underworld activities during his tenure as the Minister of Public Security. “I have repeatedly warned underworld characters to stop their illegal activities. If they do not heed my warning, they will be hunted down. I have instructed the STF commandos to use everything in their power to eradicate this menace. I have also told them in no uncertain terms that they must do their job or leave their uniforms,” the Minister said.
He said that soon after he had assumed duties as the Minister of Public Security, he had met with all DIGs and told them that stringent action had to be taken against drug dealers. “There are three types of persons involved in narcotic related offences.
There are large scale dealers who smuggle in drugs. The Navy and police intelligence services have been tasked with taking care of them, and to dismantle their networks. Then there are drug addicts. The third group consists of those who run the narcotics distribution networks. Operation Yukthiya is aimed at dealing with the third group,” the Minister said, calling on the public to cooperate with the police by supplying whatever information that they have about drug businessmen and their operations.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) relating to the project to provide technological solutions to prevent wild elephants from being hit by trains was signed yesterday (01) afternoon at the President’s Media Centre, under the patronage of Secretary to the President Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
Coordinated through the “Clean Sri Lanka” programme, the project is being implemented as a public-private partnership, with the Railway Department, the Department of Wildlife Conservation and the Forest Conservation Department working together, with full financial support from People’s Bank.
The system consists of three-beam detection, passive infrared (PIR) sensors, automatic temperature sensors and a tamper alarm system to detect animals weighing more than 20 kilogrammes and unauthorised interference. Signal lights (red/yellow/green) installed on either side of the railway tracks, together with a special screen installed inside the locomotive cab, will alert the driver in advance to the exact location of an elephant.
A demonstration test of the system was successfully conducted at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage premises in the presence of the relevant officials, following which a report on the system was prepared.
The system will be implemented as a pilot project from next month at 13 locations where wild elephant accidents are frequent. A newly developed website is also scheduled to be launched to enable the progress of the project to be viewed live.
Additional General Manager of Railways P.D.S.B. Chandrasena, Director General of Wildlife Conservation M.S.L.R.P. Marasinghe, Conservator General of Forests S.C. Palamakuumbura and Chairman of People’s Bank Chandana Guniyangoda signed the relevant MoU. Officials from the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat, including Presidential Additional Secretary (Clean Sri Lanka) Engineer S.P.C. Sugeeshwara, as well as senior officials from the Railway Department, Department of Wildlife Conservation, Forest Conservation Department and People’s Bank, were also present.
[President’s Media Division]
The Commissioner General of Examinations has announced that the results of the 2026 Grade 5 Scholarship Examination have been released online, and can be viewed on the department’s official website: www.doenets.lk
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya departed Sri Lanka on Monday, 31 August, to undertake an official visit to Bhutan to participate in the Global Conscious Food Systems Summit, scheduled to be held in Bhutan.
During her visit, Prime Minister Dr Amarasuriya participated in the opening plenary of the Summit on 1 September, where she delivered a keynote address under the theme “Rising to the Moment: Igniting Consciousness to Address the Polycrisis.”
The Prime Minister will also engage in discussions with international leaders and representatives on strengthening cooperation towards sustainable food systems, food security and resilient communities.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
Nilakshika fifty, Athapaththu seven-for rescue Sri Lanka against Indonesia
Winners to receive medals at Western Province School Games after many years
MoU signed for technology to prevent wild elephant-train collisions
Grade 5 scholarship exam results released
Prime Minister participates in Global Conscious Food Systems Summit in Bhutan
Bouchier century sets England up for record 282-run chase against Ireland
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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