Five school children were admitted to the Haldummulla District Hospital after a herd of buffaloes chased them when they were on their way to the school in Bathgoda, Haldummulla this morning (11).

The five students aged 10 and 11 studying at the Vipulananda Tamil School in Bathgoda belonging to the Haldummulla Division were admitted to the hospital. Sources said that their condition is not serious.

When the children were walking towards the school from Bathgoda Junction, the buffaloes herded by a man had chased after the children.

The Haputale Police are conducting further investigations.

A 23-year-old woman who fainted after being given a laxative in Giritale in Minneriya, has passed away.

The deceased who is a resident of Diyakapilla, Sigiriya died after being admitted to the Jayanthipura Hospital, the Police Spokesperson’s Office said.

The victim and her mother had visited a Devalaya in Giritale where local medicines are given, seeking a remedy in hope of conceiving a child.

She died after being admitted to the hospital due to the fainting that occurred after three days of drinking a laxative prescribed by a female who administered ‘treatments’ at the Devala.

The cause of death is yet to be determined and the body has been placed at the Polonnaruwa General Hospital pending the post-mortem following the Magisterial Inquiry.

Only 40% of the daily liquid milk requirement in the country is met with a 60% shortage remaining.

This was revealed at the Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) meeting on July 06.

Chairman of the COPA – State Minister asked about measures to close the shortage gap and officials pointed out that 15,000 farms that can produce 100 litres of milk per day have been set up at present.

They added that around 2000 farms have been registered already for this purpose.

The COPA chairman emphasised the importance of a national plan to resolve this issue and called for a report in this regard within two weeks.