RataWata News | Provincial News Around the Sri Lanka

A person who was transferring mangrove poles on a dinghy was apprehended by the Navy in the Mandathivu lagoon area, on 16 February 2020. Sri Lanka Navy which is well concerned of the conservation of marine ecosystem, apprehended this suspect during a search operation conducted in Madathivu lagoon area. Mangrove poles cut by him, the dinghy and OBM used for transportation were taken into naval custody. The suspect is a 41 years old resident of Gurunagar area and he along with mangrove poles,dinghy and OBM were handed over to Forest Range Office-Jaffna for onward action. This mangrove eco system which is an authentic resource activate against the soil erosion, is destroyed only by very few people and SL Navy keeps a watchful eye on such groups to foil their attempts and to enforce the law against them. Further, Sri Lanka Navy has launched several projects successfully to replant the mangrove around the lagoon areas of the island. The prime objective of these project...

Once more extension of  beach clean-up drive of the Sri Lanka Navy, mooted in view of conservation of beaches around the island, was successfully carried out at several beaches in the Eastern, Southern, North Central and South Eastern Naval Areas, on 10th, 15th and 16th February 2020. As part of the programme, Sandy Bay beach in Eastern Naval  Command, Piyargama beach in Thalaimannar in the North Central Naval Command, Pothuvil Ulla beach in South Eastern Naval Command were cleaned by the Navy. In the same vein, the Navy also cleaned-up the beach area extended to Devata, Paravi wella beach in Tangalle, beach area from Boosa to Rathgama and Idivinna beach belonging to the South Coast. The untiring effort of the naval personnel assisted by the school students and civilians resulted in restoring the previous charm of the beaches which had been severely polluted due to human activities and natural reasons. Under the directives of Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Piy...

A meeting between Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and former President Maithripala Sirisena is scheduled to take place tomorrow. That was to discuss the proposed new alliance between the SLFP and the SLFP. It is said that a final agreement will be reached regarding the alliance for the next general election.

The Navy recovered a locally made gun, during a search conducted at  Palichchaweli area in Jaffna, on 16th February 2020. While conducting a search in the general area of Palichchaweli, Aiyanath Kovilladi in Jaffna, the Navy has recovered this locally made small size gun which was hidden near a bush. Further investigation on the recovered gun, is conducted by the Navy.

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.