RataWata News | Provincial News Around the Sri Lanka

The Election Commission states that 33 candidates have placed their bail in the presidential election. The Commission states that 12 other candidates have placed their bail in the Presidential Election yesterday. UNP MP Sajith Premadasa was placed on bail yesterday while former Speaker of Parliament Chamal Rajapaksa was placed on bail. Also, MP Kumara Welgama as an independent candidate, Mahesh Senanayake representing the National People's Party and Duminda Nagamuwa representing the Frontline Socialist Party filed deposits yesterday. Meanwhile the acceptance of postal voting applications ended at midnight last night. It is also stated that all the candidates who are contesting the Presidential Election will be called to the Election Commission tomorrow. Meanwhile, President of the Election Commission Mahinda Deshapriya states that election laws will be strictly implemented during the presidential election. He made this statement at a media briefing hel...

A crucial central committee meeting of the SLFP is being held today. The party is headed by President Maithripala Sirisena. The meeting will be held at the official residence of the President. The central committee of the party is to make a final decision on whether it will join the SLFP at the presidential election. Meanwhile, a meeting of all SLFP organizers was held in Colombo yesterday. It is reported that discussions have been held regarding the alliance with the People's Alliance.

Relentless torrential rain has caused floods in several regions of the country as of now. Accordingly, the Navy has already deployed a number of emergency response teams to provide relief to the flood victims in those areas. Incidentally, 24 relief teams with 13 dinghies have been sent out to Southern and Western provinces to rescue people displaced by flash floods. These teams are currently engaged to help community slashed by inclement weather in Walallavita and Bulathsinhala in the Kalutara district, Nagoda, Thawalama, Imaduwa, Udugama and Poddala in the Galle district, Kamburupitiya, Thihagoda, Malimbada and Akuressa in the Matara district and Kotikawatta in the Colombo district. Further, a tree fallen across the Polathumodara River in Delgahatota, Galle had blocked the free flow of water, posing a flood risk in the area. Responding promptly to the situation, a team of naval personnel cleared the blockage, helping the swift downstream of water. Meanwhile, the Na...

Madhava Kulasooriya - Vavuniya :  A fire broke out at the People's Bank branch in Velvetithurai, Jaffna, police said. According to police, the fire had occurred in the room where the generator of the bank branch was located. After the fire broke out in the room where the generator was located, residents and bank security officers alerted the police about the incident. According to the police, the fire had spread to the Jaffna Municipal Council Fire Station and the fire had not spread to the bank's premises. No casualties have been reported. The Velvetithurai police are conducting further investigations.

A Visit Board Search & Seizure (VBSS) course for the boarding teams of Indonesian, Malaysian and Philippine Coast Guards commenced at the Special Boat Squadron (SBS) Headquarters in Trincomalee today (16th September 2019). The United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) partners with the Sri Lanka Navy in conducting this training programme. Under the directives of Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva the programme is conducted at the Training School of SBS and the opening address of the course was held with the participation of Commander Hemakumara Herath, Training Commander Special Boat Squadron Training School, Maritime Law Enforcement mentors from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime programme and a group of naval personnel. The two week-long course organized for the fifth time for maritime law enforcement agencies of member states is being held at the SBS Headquarters and it is participated by 08 Coast Guard personnel each from Indonesia a...

Sri Lanka Navy ships patrolling in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) had spotted 04 Sri Lankan multiday fishing vessels named ‘Danuji’, ‘Suba Pathum 4’, ‘Lakpriya Dehi’ and ‘Nalin 10’ engaging in fishing activities in waters belonging to the Maldives. Accordingly, the Navy held those fishing vessels along with 27 persons onboard and escorted them to the harbours of Colombo and Galle for further investigation today (16th September 2019). During further search, the Navy managed to find a small quantity of drugs (ice) in one fishing vessel. Investigations are currently underway to determine if these vessels have a connection to drug trafficking. Meanwhile, the Department of Fisheries will take onward action with regard to the stock of fish found in the vessels.

A request to extradite former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran to Sri Lanka has been handed over to the Singapore government. The Attorney General's Coordinator, State Counsel Nisara Jayaratne stated that the request for extradition has been made by the Sri Lankan High Commission in Singapore. The Foreign Ministry had forwarded this request to the Sri Lankan High Commission in Singapore.

500 projects to cover all districts have been opened from today.  It was chaired by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Steps have been taken to open a number of constructions including school buildings constructed at a cost of Rs. 10,000 million. The inauguration ceremony of Kahathuduwa Weniwelkola Sisuyodana Educational Institute will be declared open by the Prime Minister. 360 million was spent for this purpose. The total cost of the project is Rs. 65 million.

Former President of the Sri Lanka Medical Council Prof. Carlo Fonseka has passed away. Carlo Fonseka was born on March 4, 1933 at the age of 86. He was appointed as the President of the Sri Lanka Medical Council in 2012 and resigned in 2017.

A man with a firearm and two swords have been arrested in Kuliyagoda, Ambalangoda. According to information received by the Ambalangoda police. Police have seized a locally manufactured 12-bore firearm, two ammunition and two swords in the possession of a man who was riding a motorcycle. The suspect is a 30 year old resident of Kuleegoda.