The Department of Coastal Conservation and Coastal Resources Management says no hotel or individual can claim ownership of beaches in Sri Lanka. 

Speaking during a televised interview, Director General of the Department, Professor Turney Pradeep Kumara, said that it is the responsibility of hotels and properties to maintain their beachfront.

He said, however, just because they maintain such beach fronts, they cannot claim ownership of the area as private beaches, and prevent locals or individuals from using the area. 

“If an area is not designated by the Defence Ministry or the Department of Wildlife Conservation, anyone can visit that beach area. No individual or property can claim it as theirs,” he added. (Newswire)

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The body of an unidentified individual was found on the Mount Lavinia Beach last night.

According to the Police, the body has been identified as that of a male, but his identity is yet to be ascertained. 

The deceased was found wearing a blue long-sleeved shirt and black trousers. 

The Mount Lavinia Police is conducting investigations. (Newswire)

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A crocodile has been spotted in the seas off Mount Lavinia over the past few days, causing panic among fishermen and beach-goers. 

Video footage has emerged of the crocodile being surrounded by fishing boats and snapping at one boat.

According to the Sri Lanka Lifeguard Association, there has been an increase in crocodiles in the seas near Mount Lavinia Beach over the past days. 

The Association states tourists and fishermen have been severely affected as a result, requesting authorities to provide a prompt solution to the issues. (Newswire) 

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An unidentified body was found washed ashore on the Galle Face beach in Colombo Fort last evening (Sep 14), the Police stated.

The body had been recovered based on a tip-off to the Fort Police Station.

The Police stated that the identity of the body has not been ascertained as yet, while it is assumed that the body belongs to a male between the age of 60-65 years. 

The body has been placed at the Colombo National Hospital, while the Fort Police are conducting investigations into the incident. (NewsWire)

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A mysterious iron ball nearly 5 feet wide was found on a beach in Hamamatsu City, Japan, this week. Officials scrambled to ensure the giant ball was not a bomb, according to Japanese broadcaster NHK, which released video of police examining it. 

The ball is not a bomb, officials said – but its origin is still unknown. The peculiar orb, which is hollow and sand-colored, has baffled locals and social media users.

The ball was first spotted by a local resident, according to NHK. Law enforcement closed off the beach as they examined and X-rayed the object, deeming it safe. It will be removed from the beach soon, local authorities said. 

One local man told NHK he came to the beach for a run and was surprised at all the attention on the ball because he claims it had been there for a month. “I tried to push it, but it wouldn’t budge.” 

CBS News has reached out to officials in Shizuoka Prefecture, where Hamamatsu City is located, and is awaiting response.

Suspicious objects spotted around the world have made headlines in recent days – mainly so-called “spy balloons” from China. A balloon spotted over Montana earlier this month raised concerns as the U.S. government tracked its path over the U.S. The balloon was shot down off the coast of South Carolina and recovered in the Atlantic Ocean.

More balloons have been spotted over five continents and the Pentagon said the balloon shot down off the coast of South Carolina is part of a “larger Chinese surveillance balloon program” that has operated for several years. 

China says the ballon is a weather device that veered off course.  

While the ball that appeared on the beach in Japan is not a floating balloon, it comes at a time of heightened concern over unidentified objects. 

China and Japan also held security talks on Wednesday — their first in four years, according to BBC News. Japan expressed concern to China about the balloons, which have appeared over Japan since 2019. (CBS News)

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