A Sri Lankan sous chef has been charged with murder over the alleged stabbing death of a young female colleague in a kitchen storeroom at a Canberra zoo, Australian media reported today.

Jude Wijesinghe, 29, was arrested on Monday night and taken to hospital under police guard with “significant” self-inflicted stab wounds.

News.com.au confirmed that the victim is a 29-year-old Bhutanese national.

ATC Policing confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that Wijesinghe had been charged with murder, the report said.

“ACT Policing homicide detectives have today charged a 29-year-old man with one count of murder during a bedside hearing following an incident at the National Zoo & Aquarium yesterday,” an ACT Policing spokesperson confirmed.

The woman, who has not yet been identified, was found at 12.50pm in a commercial kitchen at the National Zoo & Aquarium of Yarralumla.

Police stormed Wijesinghe’s apartment in Oaks Estate around 2pm and spent hours inside, neighbours told Daily Mail Australia.

“He’s been here about one to two years,” one resident told the publication. “Before that, there was a group of guys living in there.”

“I can’t believe it,” another said. “It’s all a bit of a shock.”

Wijesinghe was a chef at Jamala Wildlife Lodge, which is part of the National Zoo & Aquarium, and regularly shared snaps of his culinary creations to social media.

It’s understood he migrated to Australia from Sri Lanka. He studied in Adelaide before working in kitchens across the country.

Metho Dema, First Secretary at the Royal Bhutanese Embassy in Canberra today told news.com.au the victim is from Bhutan.

She added the close-knit Bhutanese community was deeply affected by the young woman’s death.

“The Embassy is in close contact with the bereaved family of the deceased as well as the Police and providing consular support,” Ms Dema said.

“The close-knit Bhutanese community in Canberra is deeply affected by this tragic incident involving a member of our community and is rallying around the bereaved family during this very difficult period.

“On behalf of the family and our community, we request that the media respect their privacy and allow them space to grieve this extremely tragic and sad loss.”

ACT Policing Detective Superintendent of Criminal Investigations Hall O’Meagher said witnesses heard “loud screams” around the kitchen area and responded to the disturbance.

“A homicide investigation has commenced and further inquiries will include an examination of the scene forensically, talking to witnesses and a post-mortem examination that will confirm the cause of death of this woman,” he said.

“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victim.”

The knife police allege was used in the stabbing was found at the scene.

Photos from the scene show an extensive police response, with investigators interviewing people at the zoo.

The incident was contained to the zoo and there is no further threat to the ACT community, the police said.

The man is recovering in hospital under police guard, according to News.com.au.

Police do not know if the pair were in a relationship and are investigating this line of inquiry.

They added that the zoo would be closed “for some time”.

The National Zoo & Aquarium is privately owned 19-hectare zoo and aquarium at the western end of Lake Burley Griffin next to the Scrivener Dam.

The zoo is known for having the largest collection of big cats in Australia, including, until recently, the only tigon (a tiger, lion cross breed) in Australasia.

A custodian (Kapu Mahattaya) of the Ruhunu Kataragama Devalaya, who had surrendered to the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) this morning (Dec. 19), has been ordered to be released on bail.

The suspect – Saman Priyantha alias ‘Chuti Kapurala’, had been arrested over a 38-pound gold offering that had gone missing, and was produced before the Tissamaharama Magistrate Court later in the day.

The Tissamaharama Magistrate – Tharindu de Silva had ordered to release the suspect on two sureties amounting to Rs. 500,000. He was also ordered to appear before the CCD on every Sunday.

(Source : Lankadeepa)

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Under the auspices of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, a sophisticated disaster early warning system was officially introduced today (19), marking a collaborative effort involving the Disaster Management Centre, Sri Lanka Telecommunication Regulatory Commission and major telephone service providers including SLT Mobitel, Hutch, Dialog and Airtel.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalizing this strategic initiative was also signed at the President’s Office today.

Director General of the Disaster Management Centre Major General S. Ranasinghe (Retired) and Director General of the Sri Lanka Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Mr. Madhushanka Dissanayake, were the signatories to the MoU. Notable stakeholders, including Group Chief Executive Officer of Dialog Axiata Mr. Supun Weerasinghe, Group Chief Executive Officer of Sri Lanka Telecom Mr. Janaka R. Abeysinghe, Chief Executive Officer of Bharti Airtel Lanka Mr. Ashish Chandra, Chief Operating Officer of Mobitel Pvt. Ltd. Mr. Sudarshan Giganage and Acting Chief Executive Officer of Hutchison Telecommunications Lanka Pvt. Ltd Mr. Samitra Gupta were actively involved in the signing ceremony.

The primary objective of this state-of-the-art disaster early warning system is to fortify the existing mechanism, ensuring the safety and well-being of Sri Lankan citizens amidst various disasters, including those caused by weather and climate changes. The system leverages cutting-edge technology to deliver more effective early warnings through telephone communication networks.

Specifically focusing on tsunami disasters, the system targets nearly sixty thousand (60,000) mobile and landline numbers in 14 districts identified as high-risk areas. It is designed to promptly issue an immediate early warning in the form of a distinctive “Ring Tone” notification accompanied by a siren sound.

This will establish a more robust early warning mechanism for the public, utilizing phone notifications featuring a siren sound, particularly effective during night-time hours.

Scheduled for a public rollout on “National Security Day” on December 26, 2023, the system’s scope is anticipated to expand in the future, evolving into a comprehensive multi-disaster early warning mechanism. This expansion aims to include landslides and floods, further enhancing its utility and impact.

The high-profile event was attended by key dignitaries, including State Minister for Defence Mr.  Pramita Bandara Thennakoon, President’s Senior Advisor on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff Mr. Sagala Ratnayake, Secretary to the Defence Ministry General Kamal Gunaratne (Retired) and Directors of the Disaster Management Centre, Brigadier T.C. Harasgama and Mr. Pradeep Kodippili were among others.

(President’s Media Division)