NEW DELHI, March 24: A 12-year-old boy from Kerala, who fathered a child with a 16-year-old girl, is perhaps the youngest father in India.
The young mother gave birth to a baby girl a few months ago at a hospital in Ernakulam.
371 million To purchase 9 vehicles for ministers
The government yesterday submitted a supplementary estimate seeking the approval of the House for Rs. 371 million (Rs. 371,097,000) to purchase nine vehicles for ministers and deputy ministers.
The estimate was presented to the House by Chief Government Whip Parliamentary Reforms and Mass Media Minister Gayantha Karunathilake.
New Zealand to open High Commission in SL
New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully has announced that New Zealand will open a High Commission in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
"Establishing a High Commission in Colombo is a sign of New Zealand’s commitment to strengthening the relationship between our countries," Mr McCully says.
Central Bank raises rates to curb inflation
“The Monetary Board, at its meeting held on 23 March 2017, was of the view that further tightening of monetary policy is necessary as a precautionary measure, in order to contain the build-up of adverse inflation expectations and the possible acceleration of demand side inflationary pressures through excessive monetary and credit expansion,” the Central Bank said in a statement today.
Wimal’s 2 children hospitalized
The two children of remanded MP Wimal Weerawansa, who is on a fast, have been hospitalized.
His son Vibhuthi and daughter Vimasha too, have refused food, and were admitted to Ragama Hospital yesterday (23).
Vibhuthi was discharged on the same day, but the girl was transferred to Lady Ridgeway Hospital for further treatment.
5 dead, 40 injured in London attack
Five people have died and at least 40 were injured after an attacker drove a car along a pavement in Westminster, stabbed a policeman and was shot dead by police in the grounds of Parliament.
The dead officer has been named as PC Keith Palmer, 48, a husband and father.
Wimal begins hunger strike
National Freedom Front leader and Colombo District Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa, who has been remanded since January on a charge of misuse of state vehicles and causing a loss to the tune of Rs.91,600,000 yesterday launched a hunger strike, demanding his release from the Welikada Prison.
The former JVP strongman has informed the prison authorities in writing about his hunger strike.
STF captures Battaramulle Bunty
K.Chathuranga alias Battaramulle Bunty, a key suspect in last month’s attack on a prison bus, has told the STF officers who captured him, that the killers had prior information that the underworld leader ‘Samayan’ and four of his cohorts would be transported to Kaduwela courts.
Later the suspect was handed over to the Colombo Crime Division.
Army Intelligence man arrested
A member of the Army Intelligence Directorate was arrested last Monday (20) evening on suspicion of being involved in the assault on journalist Keith Noyahr in 2008.
Police Media said the suspect, a 34-year-old resident of Wegowwa, Minuwangoda, is a member of the Army Intelligence Directorate. He was produced before the Mount Lavinia Magistrate's Court yesterday (21).
Inflation jumps to 8.2%
Year-on-year inflation soared to its highest within the last 12 months in February, the Department of Census and Statistics data shows.
According to the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI), the year-on-year inflation rate in February was 8.2%. The inflation rate in January was 6.5% and it had increased by approximately 0.5% during the month of February. Statistics reflect that the average price levels in February 2017 are 8.2% more than the average price level recorded in February 2016.
Brit woman sent two Lankans to UK illegally
A British woman, arrested with three other UK nationals in a case of alleged human smuggling, had helped two Sri Lankans fly to the UK with fake passports in January.
The Police said that Julie Ann Warner (36), a tourist guide, has confessed that she became a carrier after meeting a Sri Lankan agent, Logorajan, six months ago.
Special Team killed Lasantha – CID
Quoting a statement made by Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka on Wickrematunge’s killing, the CID informed the Mt. Lavinia Magistrate’s Court yesterday that Fonseka had harboured suspicions that a special unit carried out attacks on Wickrematunge, including on the media.
The unit allegedly operated under the former Head of the Intelligence Services, Kapila Hendawitharana. The CID informed court that it had recorded a statement from the former Army Commander Field Marshal Fonseka on the killing of the late Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge and the Field Marshal had told them that he had suspicions about a special unit operating under Hendawitharana to carry out certain attacks in the Colombo area.