A Businessman Arrested With Smuggled Gem And Jewelerry At Mattala Air Port

A Sri Lankan businessman who returned from Thailand was arrested today(12) with some jewellery and gems smuggled in to the country illegally at the Mattala International Air Port by custom officers .the gems and jeweleries he smuggled in to the country were from Bangkok and worth Rs.millions according to custom officers.

This marks the first such arrest at Mattala International Air Port in southern province which is Sri Lanka's second international air port.

Court Cases Filed Against Sixty Seven Institutes And Houses Maintaining Dengue Mosquito Breeding Places

The Colombo Public Health Department has filed court cases against Government Technical College and 67 other public/private institutes and houses situated in Colombo City today(12) against maintaining dengue mosquito breeding places in their premises the Chief Medical Officer of Health in Colombo Dr.Pradeep Kariyawasam has said.

According to Dr.Kariyawasam,the public health department officers were found many places with large number of dengue mosquito larvae  within technical college premises .around 1930 institutes and houses were checked during today under dengue inspections carried out in the Colombo City and notices were issued to 146 institutes and houses with dengue mosquito breeding places he stressed.

Total Number Of Dengue Patients This Year Exceeds 14,000

The total number of Dengue Patients reported throughout the island this year have passed over 14,000 today(11) according to Epidemiologists.now the total number of dengue patients reported from island this year stands as 14,091 patients and over 45 deaths reported during that period.

The highest number of dengue patients have reported from Colombo District (3620)and total number of  4380 Dengue Patients have been reported during this April and May epidemiologists stressed.around 42.14% out of the total number of dengue patients reported this year are from western province .

Latest Update- 42 Fishermen Died ,Another 22 missing Due To The Adverse Weather

According to the the latest information received 42 fishermen have died and another 22 were injured  due to the adverse weather conditions prevailed in the island during last few days.43 fishermen are still missing along with 24 trawlers according to Ministry Of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources .

Out of the 42 fishermen died 23  deaths were reported from Galle,9 deaths from Colombo and another 9 deaths from Kalutara and 1 death from Negombo Districts.

Government has announced that Rs.100,000 compensation will be given to the families of fishermen who died .meanwhile President Mahinda Rajapaksha has requested a full report from the authorities on how the Sri Lankan Meteorology Department issued warnings to the Fishermen and public on adverse weather during last few days. Speculations are growing among public that the department was not able to inform fishermen on the adverse weather conditions including gusty winds and rough seas in time on last Friday where most of the dead and missing fishermen went to the sea.

Number Of People Died Due To Adverse Weather Conditions Increased To 20- 36 Fishermen And 37 Boats Were Missing

Around 20 people including 18 fishermen have confirmed as dead and 36 fishermen along with 37 fishing boats went missing up to now due to the adverse monsoon weather conditions including strong winds and rough seas the disaster management center has said.

The missing 36 boats were missing from Galle ,Kalutara,Negombo and Colombo .according to the sources around 22 fishermen went missing were rescued dueing round to clock search operations carried out by Navy and Air Force.the rescued fishermen are currently admitted to hospitals and receiving treatment,

Out of the 36 fishermen went missing 17 are sailed from Ahungalla area and 3 from modara.search operations continues.

5 Deaths Were Reported Due To Adverse Weather Conditions

According to the Disaster Management Center(DMC) 5 deaths including 4 fishermen have been reported so far and another 17 fishermen are reported as missing due to the adverse weather conditions.meanwhile Navy and Air Force involved in the rescue mission of missing fishermen able to rescue 6 fishermen from the seas in Mount Lavinia,Balapitiya and Kollupitiya areas.

The meteorology department has advised fishermen to refrain from going for fishing activities  especially in Mannar to Potuwil via Colombo and Galle as there will be strong rough winds up to 60 to 70 kilo meters per hour during  next 24 hours.

Three Fishermen Died And 12 Hosptalized Due To Adverse Weather Pattern -More Fishermen Gone Missing

Due to the strong winds assisted with thunder showers occurred most parts of the Island yesterday evening three fishermen who drowned in the southern seas have died and 12 were hospitalized according to Navy sources,the bodies of the 3 died washed ashore and 12 fishermen who were rescued by Navy were admitted to Balapitiya(Southern Province) Hospital.some other fishermen who went to see have reported as missing.

Meanwhile Sri Lankan Navy has dispatched 3 ships from Colombo to Galle to rescue fishermen who had gone  missing and Air Force has dispatched a Helicopter for the rescue mission.a tense situation has occurred in Dehiwala Area(Colombo Suburbs) as fishing folks blocked train tracks and demanding authorities to rescue some fishermen gone missing due to adverse weather condition.