Bomb explosion in Dehiwala

Police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekara says 9 persons have been killed in the blast that occurred on a train travelling from Fort to Panadura yesterday evening.

Acting director of the Colombo South General Hospital Dr. Wilfred Kumarasiri said 73 injured persons have been admitted to the hospital. He said six bodies also lie at the hospital.The blast occurred at around 5.00 this evening just as the train was leaving the Dehiwala Railway Station. Police say the bomb was in the hood rack of the 5th compartment of the train.


Many of the victims were office workers headed home at the end of the workday and the victims who suffered injuries were rushed to the Kalubowila teaching hospital and National hospital Colombo. Meanwhile the Government Railway said that Train services along the coastal line resumed a few minutes ago but will be limited to two way traffic on a single line resulting in delays.

Emergency aid to the People of Myanmar.

Emergency aid from the People of Sri Lanka to People of Myanmar has been air dashed to Myanmar. Ministry of Health helped for the transportation of the consignment up to Katunayake and Mountain Hawk Express Ltd, Licensees for FedEx international Courier Service helped with the logistic service for the Myanmar relief.

Earlier all three chapters of Maha Sangha have appealed for urgent assistance from the public to help people of Myanmar affected by the recent cyclone and community and Business sector given good respond on the Maha Sangha's request.

Subsequently, Minister Milinda Moragoda, Minister Laksman Yapa Abeywardana and Chief justice Mr. Sarath N Silva called a meeting and established a special committee including Aggamahapanditha Kotugoda Dammawasa anunayaka, Ittapana Dammalankara, Brahmanawatte Sivalee, Prof. Bellanwila Wimalarathana, Maduluwawe Sobitha, Muruttetuwe Anannda, Daranagama Kusaladamma and Thiniyawala Palitha theros to coordinate with relevant authorities on this event.

Sri Lanka Tea board, Maliban Company, Joint apparel Exporters forum and John keels joined with the Minister of Tourism took action to organize a relief consignment to Myanmar cyclone affected countrymen as a gesture of goodwill. In fact the Cultural and Buddhist Religious Relations between Sri Lanka and Myanmar date back to several centuries in the history. The relief project initiated by the Ministry of Tourism was actively supported by the High Buddhist Priests, Catholic Church and several statutory bodies and several business establishments.

Minister of Tourism requested the Government of Norway through Ambassador in Colombo Tore Hattrem for financial support for the air lifting of the consignment to Myanmar. The request made was swiftly acknowledged by the Government of Norway and it was announced that would the cover the cost of carriage up to U. S. $ 90,000/-.

Further in response to a special request, the Norwegian Government consented additionally to meet the cost of air passage to the 10 member delegation headed by Bandula Gunawardena, Minister of Trade, Marketing Development, Co-operatives & Consumer Services, accompanying the relief consignment to Myanmar.

Video surveillance cameras in private buses

Installation ofo surveillance cameras in private buses to detect un-disciplinary activities and financial frauds has commenced.

Two such cameras were installed in two private buses plying between Colombo and Badulla. The cameras record all visual and audio information from the start to the end of the journey.

President of the Inter-provincial Bus Owners’ Association and Basnayake Nilame of the Sri Saman Devalaya in Mahiyanganaya, Ranjith Amarasinghe in whose buses the cameras were installed said the cameras also records the persons who place parcels in the buses and the exact time of such placements.

He adds that it would be possible to find out that bus crew who treat the passengers in a harmful manner and buses which are overcrowded. Mr. Amarasinghe said all buses belonging to the Sri Lanka Inter-provincial Private Bus Owners’ Association will be provided such cameras in future.