Heavy traffic after the protest of health workers
Heavy traffic has been reported in the Colombo City Hall area. This is due to a protest by health workers’ unions demanding higher wages. Due to this, the police are requesting drivers to use alternative routes as much as possible Health workers are protesting for three continuous days requesting solutions for wage issue.
Businessman arrested for raping a German girl
A 28-year-old businessman has been arrested for allegedly intoxicating and abusing a 32-year-old German woman at a hotel in Kollupitiya. The 32-year-old German woman is due to be presented to a doctor and receive a report. Police investigations have revealed that the suspect businessman has been a friend of the German girl for about six years. Police say that the father of the German girl is a former naval officer who is a Sri Lankan and the mother is a German woman. She arrived in Sri Lanka on December 18 and stayed at a relative’s house in Tangalle. It was also reported that the woman had been staying with a businessman in a hotel in the Kandy area for about two weeks. The girl, who was scheduled to leave the country on the 6th, had arrived at a hotel in the Kollupitiya area on the 4th with the businessman and the two had gone to a nightclub that day and stayed there until 4 the next morning. Police investigations have revealed that she had consumed vodka and the youth had also consumed alcohol. The girl’s credit card was lost and the suspect businessman had an argument between the two over not taking it into account, police said, adding that the girl had returned to the hotel in the Kollupitiya area where she was staying a wagon. The girl had felt some discomfort after arriving at the hotel and unknowingly identified her on examination that she had been raped. She suspects that she was raped after mixing with something to drink vodka while staying at the hotel. The girl is to be presented to a doctor and reported to testify about the rape. . Her complaint further states that when she woke up, she had only her underwear and the other clothes were in the bathroom.
Argentina join the China’s Belt and Road program
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in Beijing on Sunday for Argentina to join China’s Belt and Road program. According to foreign media reports, the signing took place between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Argentine President Alberto Fernandez. . The Argentine President is currently on a visit to China. Simultaneously, the signing of these agreements was organized. Accordingly, Argentina has become one of the leading economies in the South American continent, joining China’s trillions of dollars in global infrastructure development projects.
The Navy has taken steps to auction off 135 vessels belonging to Indian fishermen arrested while fishing in the North Sea
The Navy has taken steps to auction off 135 vessels belonging to Indian fishermen arrested while fishing in the North Sea at the Karainagar fishing harbor in Jaffna. The auction of Indian fishing vessels was attended by fishermen from Jaffna as well as customers from various parts of the island and the government earned Rs. 52,20,500 from the fishing vessel auction. The 48-foot-long Indian fishing vessel that was auctioned was the highest bidder at Rs. 1.3 million. However, 155 Indian fishing vessels and 3 Sri Lankan fishing vessels were in the custody of the Navy and the Navy has taken steps to auction all the remaining vessels in the coming days.
Japanese Government donates vehicles to Sri Lanka
The Government of Japan has provided Sri Lanka with a stock of vehicles and equipment that can be used to investigate on drugs and terrorism. It includes 28 Land Cruisers, a Prado car, a stock of equipment including a mobile scanner to detect explosives and narcotics. The value of the stock of vehicles and equipment is 700 million rupees. The vehicles and equipment were handed over to President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa by Japanese Ambassador Misukoshi Hideyaki yesterday (08), the Presidential Media Unit said.
Dunith Vellala was named to the ICC Under 19 team for his best performances
Sri Lanka captain Dunith Vellala has been named in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) squad for the Under-19 World Cup. In addition to Dunith, the squad includes three Indian players, two Pakistani players, two English players, a South African player, an Australian player, a Bangladeshi player and an Afghan player. The team consists of 12 players.
Mrs Pushpika de Silva had officially removed from the title of ‘Mrs Sri Lanka’ with immediate effect
The Mrs Sri Lanka pageant has decided to immediately remove the Mrs. Pushpika de Silva from the title of ‘Mrs Sri Lanka’ This was announced by Chandimal Jayasinghe, National Organizer of the Mrs Sri Lanka beauty pageant. Accordingly, from yesterday, Mrs Pushpika de Silva will not be allowed to use the name ‘Mrs Sri Lanka ‘ either locally or abroad. Last year, Mrs Sri Lanka beauty queen Pushpika de Silva won the title in the finals despite all the circumstances. Rosy Senanayake and Chandimal Jayasinghe have been accused of losing her crown due to pressure from them after losing the recent Mrs World beauty Pageant in the United States. Two cases have been filed against her in this regard and a defamation suit has been filed against her.
Bin Laden’s son met with Taliban leaders last year
Abdullah bin Laden, the son of al – Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden, is reported to have met with Taliban leaders in Afghanistan in October last year. The UN Security Council has released a recent report on the activities of the Islamic State and Al Qaeda and its allies. According to the report, the meeting took place after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan on August 15 last year. Today, al-Qaeda’s leadership is in a state of disarray, and as a result, it is no longer able to carry out highway attacks.
25% surcharge on ETF- EPF funds
A gazette notification was issued yesterday (07) on the bill to impose a 25 per cent surcharge on the taxable income of a person, a joint venture or a company whose taxable income exceeds Rs. 2000 million. Accordingly, clauses have been prepared to include the Employees Provident Fund and the Pension Gratuity Fund in the relevant bill, said Dr Harsha de Silva, Member of Parliament for the Samagi Jana Balawega. He added that a 25 percent surcharge would be levied on several funds, including the Employees Provident Fund. The surcharge will be levied on the assessment year commencing on April 1, 2020, which is calculated in accordance with the provisions of the Inland Revenue Act.
Mahapola Higher Education Fund Bill will be read for the second time
Parliament will convene from today until next Friday. Accordingly, two orders under the National Drug Regulatory Authority Act and the Lalith Athulathmudali Mahapola Higher Education Fund Bill will be read for the second time today. Leader of the House Dinesh Gunawardena said that two amendments will be made today regarding the Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship Fund. Accordingly, a retired Supreme Court Judge or a retired Auditor General will be appointed to replace the former Chief Justice who has been the Chairman of the Fund. Among the amendments to be tabled today is an amendment to appoint a representative to replace the Minister in charge of the subject who was a member of the Fund.