FROM BUDDHISM

Two Persons Had Been Killed After Colliding With Two Trains In Wellawatta

A 42 year old female and a 65 year old male had been killed after colliding with two trains at Wellawatta Police division last evening (27) it has been reported.

Accordingly the 42 year old female who was a resident of Moratuwa area had been killed after colliding with a Train travelling from Maradana to South Kalutara near the Coastal security Naval Base in Wellawatte and a 65 year old male was killed after colliding with a Train travelling from Wellawatta to Dehiwala at Nelson Road in Wellawatta .

Both bodies had been sent to the mortuary of Kalubowila Teaching Hospital and the identity of the deceased male has not yet been revealed .

Wellawatta Police are conducting an investigations over the two incidents.

A Person Was Arrested With A Haul Of "Ice" Narcotic

Waddukoddai Police have arrested a 21 year old person whilst transporting 86.41 Grammes of

"Ice" Narcotic in a Motorcycle for distribution at Waddukoddai ,Siththnakeni in Jaffna last evening (27).

The estimated value of the haul of "Ice" narcotic taken in to custody in possession of the suspect is around Rs.800,000.

The Suspect who is a resident of Waddukoddai area is due to be produced before Mallakam Magistrate Court today (28).

Waddukoddai Police are conducting an investigations over the incident.

GOLDEN MELODIES

A STUDY FINDS LINK BETWEEN OBESITY AND SENSE OF SMELL

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323989.php

After 118 Working Days Have Unearthed 278 Skeletons From Mannar Mass Grave-Office On Missing Persons

The Consultant Judicial Medical Officer, District General Hospital Mannar, Dr Rajapaksha noted that “After 118 working days we have unearthed two hundred and seventy-eight skeletons,from  the Mannar mass grave, located at the Sathosa Building in Mannar town which includes remains of men, women and children. 

There are some damages to the bones, but it is only upon further investigation that we can determine if these are ante mortem or post mortem injuries, and whether it relates to the cause of death " Dr.Rajapakshe has stated .

From the 18 th to the 20th December 2018, the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) observed the process of selecting six bone samples for radio carbon dating  (Case No B/232/2018). The process of selecting samples was carried out at the excavation site under the auspices of the Mannar Magistrate, Honourable T. Saravanaraja it has been revealed.

The Press Release issued by Mr.Rudran Kumar ,The Media Officer of the Office On Missing Persons this morning in this regard given below.


Office on Missing Persons assists investigation of human remains at the Mannar mass grave 

December 28, 2018: From the 18 th to the 20th December 2018, the Office on Missing Persons (OMP) observed the process of selecting six bone samples for radio carbon dating at the Mannar mass grave, located at the Sathosa Building in Mannar town (Case No B/232/2018). The process of selecting samples was carried out at the excavation site under the auspices of the Mannar Magistrate, Honourable T. Saravanaraja. The team carrying out the sample selection included representatives from the Consultant Judicial Medical Officers, the Post Graduate Institute of Archaeology from the University of Kelaniya, the Police (Scene of Crime Officers – SOCO and crime investigation branch), and the Government Analysts Department. OMP Commissioners Mr. Mirak Raheem and Mr. K. Venthan were present as observers. Lawyers representing families of the disappeared and a member from the Citizens’ Committee were also present as observers.

 Radio carbon dating calculates the amount of Carbon-14 in bone and teeth samples and establishes the approximate time when an animal or plant was alive. It is a form of testing used in archaeology and forensic science for dating human remains. The samples from the Mannar mass gravesite will be sent to a laboratory abroad which specializes in bomb pulse carbon 14 technique. 

In cases where the skeletons belonged to persons that died after World War II, bomb pulse carbon 14 dating can provide a narrower range of time periods in which the deaths occurred. The Consultant Judicial Medical Officer, District General Hospital Mannar, Dr Rajapaksha noted that “After 118 working days we have unearthed two hundred and seventy-eight skeletons, which includes remains of men, women and children. There are some damages to the bones, but it is only upon further investigation that we can determine if these are ante mortem or post mortem injuries, and whether it relates to the cause of death. Our task has been to gather evidence to determine the cause of death, time since death, the contributing circumstances and the specific identity of the individuals in this site, and also determine if all the skeletons are from the same historical period or different periods, while ensuring the integrity of the site and chain of custody of remains and other evidence.” Dr Rajapaksha heads the investigation team and is assisted Professor Raj Somadeva who leads the archaeological team. Six samples were selected to represent the different areas and vertical layers of the site. Human remains had been excavated from the site as complete skeletons and as comingled bones. From complete skeletons, a tooth and a section of the femur bone was selected. From the comingled bones only the femur or where it was unavailable a tooth. The samples were extracted, cleaned, dried, sealed and labelled over the course of three days. Following the samples being tested at a laboratory and the results being submitted, a preliminary combined excavation report including the test results and other findings will be submitted by the investigation team to the Magistrate Court. 

The OMP was established under the Office on Missing Persons (Establishment, Administration and Discharge of Functions) Act No 14 of 2016, and has a primary mandate to search for and trace missing persons. Under its investigative powers, the OMP has the authority to apply to a Magistrate’s Court to act as an observer at excavations and exhumations of suspected grave sites [Section 12(d)]. The OMP’s application to act as an observer was accepted by the Honourable Mannar Magistrate on 4th June 2018, and it has been observing the process of excavation since. 

The OMP will provide financial assistance to carry out carbon dating as part of its continued support to the investigation. Prior to the sampling process, the OMP recommended guidelines for selecting and recording the samples. The OMP emphasised the need to ensure representatives of families of the disappeared and missing at the time of selecting samples to ensure accountability and transparency of the process. Further, the OMP recommended measures to secure the chain of custody of samples. Chairperson of the OMP, Mr. Saliya Pieris, stated that “The OMP remains committed to establishing the truth about circumstances in which persons went missing and their fate. It is imperative for the OMP to assist the investigation of the remains excavated at the Mannar mass grave.” Since July 2018, the OMP has been supporting the costs of food and lodgings of the excavation team and provided additional funds for covers to protect the grave site from the monsoon rain. “We have sought to impress on the authorities the need to maintain high standards and ensure public confidence and trust in the investigation process” Mr Pieris further added

Six Persons Had Been Injured And Hospitalized Due To A Three Wheeler -Motor Car Collision

Six passengers including a small child   had been injured and hospitalized after the Three

Wheeler and a Motor Car they were travelling in colliding with each other at Ekkassa area ,Ambalanthota on Thissa-Matara road last night (27).

The injured including four traveled in the Three Wheeler and Two traveled in the Motor Car had been admitted to Ambalanthota Hospital and later transferred them  to Hambanthota General Hospital.

The Motor Car   was Travelling Nonagama to Ambalanthota and the Three Wheeler  was travelling from Ambalanthota to Nonagama at the time of the accident and the high speed Motor Car collided with a small bridge first and than collided with the Three Wheeler .

The accident occurred due to the inability of the Motor Car driver to control the speed of the vehicle according to Ambalanthota Police.

Both vehicles have damaged severely due to the accident.