A prize catch : Chilaw Police Intelligence Unit officers acting on a tip-off, arrested a woman in possession of an elephant tusk with an intricate carving at Wilattewa, Chilaw, while planning to sell it for Rs 2.4 million. Police said investigations revealed the woman employed abroad for nearly eight years, had smuggled the tusks on her return from Cyprus. Investigations are continuing on the direction of Chilaw OIC Inspector M Rangala. Picture by Prasad Poornamal, Puttalam district group corr

BOC achieves unique landmark:

First Rs one trillion balance sheet in corporate sector

Bank of Ceylon (BOC), the premier state bank in the country, reached a landmark achievement by recording a Rs one trillion balance sheet as at end May this year. “We, as the national bank in the country, were working towards a target of 01,10,12 to achieve the one trillion balance sheet, Rs 10 billion profit by 2012 and achieved this significant milestone seven months prior to the targeted date,” Bank of Ceylon Chairman Dr Gamini Wickramasinghe said.

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Katuwana killers will be brought to book - Hulugalle

The government will take all measures to bring the culprits in the Katuwana double murder case to book, whoever they may be. This is another effort in eliminating the law of the jungle, Media Centre for National Security Director General Lakshman Hulugalle said yesterday.

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Anti-dengue drive:

Minister bemoans lukewarm response from govt departments

The country has 45 ministries, but only nine have appointed Dengue Control Committees. Only four out of 90 departments have responded to the circular by the Secretary to the President directing all government institutions to set up Dengue Control Committees, Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said. “There are 33 authorities, 30 boards, 24 corporations and 21 commissions in the country. But Dengue Control Committees have been set up only in one each of the above bodies.

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More evidence of Balangoda man

Pre-historic human skeleton unearthed in SL for first time :

Excavations at the Pahiyangala cave in Bulathsinhala, Kalutara confirmed that homo sapiens had settled in Sri Lanka 40,000 years ago, Deputy Director of Archaeology Dr Nimal Perera said. A skeleton of the Balangoda man was found at the excavation site of the Pahiyangala cave a few days ago, he said. It was the first time that a pre-historic human skeleton was unearthed in Sri Lanka, Dr Perera said. Following the excavation, more evidence was found about the Balangoda man including his food items, rituals and also equipment made out of stone used by him, he said.

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