Sri Lanka

A suspect has been arrested in connection with the shooting of tusker Kavantissa, whose death has sparked widespread controversy in recent days.

Investigations are underway to determine whether an organised network is involved in the shooting and killing of wild elephants, following the death of the tusker ‘Kavantissa’.

More than 2,100 people have been killed in road accidents in Sri Lanka so far this year, with an average of seven to eight lives lost daily, National Council for Road Safety Chairman Manjula Kularatne said.

Joint search operations by the Army and wildlife officials to locate the elephant known as ‘Agbo’ continued throughout the day today, with efforts scheduled to resume tomorrow, the Environment Minister said.

Medical Professionals’ Alliance for Medical and Civil Rights President and medical specialist Dr. Chamal Sanjeewa has urged President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to launch an immediate investigation into an alleged move to procure a 17-year-old linear accelerator (LINAC) for the Apeksha Cancer Hospital in Maharagama instead of a modern model.

The Norochcholai coal power plant will remain disconnected from the national grid for several days following yesterday’s sudden islandwide power outage, the National System Operator (NSO) has announced.

Former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa has been transferred from the Colombo National Hospital to Nawaloka Hospital for further medical treatment, according to hospital sources.

Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya today announced plans to recruit 30,000 teachers to the teaching service by March next year, with 23,000 graduate appointments expected to be made this year.

The Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) has warned that irregularities and ambiguities in the gazette notification issued for teacher recruitment have contributed to a crisis in the education system, with thousands of vacancies remaining unfilled.

A special military team has been deployed to search for the wild elephant Agbo following instructions from the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Environment said.

Former Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka has called for an independent investigation into the islandwide power blackout, alleging that the Government could otherwise attempt to conceal the actual reasons behind the incident.

The Ministry of Environment has requested the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to launch an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the death of tusker Kawanthissa and suspected organised activities targeting wild elephants in Sri Lanka.

The Most Venerable Keppetiyagoda Siriwimala Nayaka Thera, Anunayaka of the Sri Lanka Ramanna Maha Nikaya and Chief Incumbent of the Gatambe Rajopawanaramaya, passed away at the age of 95.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the Government would abide by decisions delivered by the judiciary, including the Supreme Court, and would not take decisions beyond those rulings.

An independent investigation will be conducted into the death of iconic tusker Kawanthissa to determine whether any errors occurred during its treatment or whether the elephant was deliberately harmed, Environment Minister Dr. Dammika Patabendi said.