A three-member committee has been appointed based on the advice of the Education Secretary of the Uva Province to investigate the incident in which an SUV toppled over during a vehicle parade.

Education Secretary of the Uva Province Nandasena Herath said the committee comprises an official of the Uva Province Education office and two officials attached to the Uva Province Education Directors office.

Herath said he expects the security forces to assist in putting a stop to such programs organized in line with the annual cricket encounters of other schools in the province.

Badulla Magistrate Nojith De Silva conducted the magisterial inquiry of the Badulla new stadium on Sunday (02) morning, where the accident occurred.

Two students of Badulla Dharmadutha College were killed and six others were injured when an SUV overturned during a vehicle parade organized in line with the annual cricket match between Badulla Dharmadutha College and Uva College on Saturday (01).

The six students injured in the accident are receiving treatment at the Badulla General Hospital.

Hospital sources said two of them are in serious condition.

The bodies of the two deceased students were handed over to their relatives on Sunday (02).

(News 1st)

President Ranil Wickremesinghe met with Mr. Bharat Lal, Director General of the Indian Institute of Good Governance, at the President’s Official Residence in Paget Road Colombo yesterday (01).

Mr. Bharat Lal visited Sri Lanka to discuss potential ways to enhance the country’s civil service and improve government institution performance by implementing effective monitoring measures.

During the meeting, Mr. Lal shared India’s success in incorporating information technology into public service delivery, which resulted in significant progress and cost savings.

During the discussion, the President made a request to Mr. Lal for his assistance in establishing a University of Governance and Public Policy in Sri Lanka. Also present at the meeting were Secretary to the President Mr. Saman Ekanayake and the Indian High Commissioner – Mr. Gopal Baglay.

The first phase of the program to plant three million jackfruit trees across the country, under the theme ‘Guwan Hamuda Herali Perali’, was launched today (01) at the Anuradhapura Air Force Base under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

This program has been implemented in conjunction with the government’s food security program with the aim of creating a local and foreign jackfruit market and to promote jackfruit among the Sri Lankan people.

Under this program, seventy five thousand jackfruit trees are expected to be planted within this year.

The book ‘Guwan Hamuda Herali Perali’ written about the jackfruit plantation was also presented to President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

In addition to jackfruit cultivation, this book also contains information on related products.

Minister of State for Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon, President’s Senior Adviser on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff Sagala Ratnayake, Secretary of the Ministry of Defence General Kamal Gunaratne (Rtd)  and several others attended the event.