Train operations on the Puttalam railway line have been limited to Chilaw station after several sections of track near Thilladi were submerged by floodwaters, the Railway Department announced.

In a statement issued this afternoon, the department said adverse weather conditions had inundated multiple points along the line, forcing services to be curtailed. 

Rising water levels are expected to continue, prompting the suspension of trains beyond Chilaw for both today and tomorrow (May 14).

As a result, the Puttalam office train and all other scheduled services will operate only between Colombo Fort and Chilaw today, while tomorrow morning trains will commence journeys from Chilaw station.

The Railway Department added that updates on train operations between Chilaw and Puttalam will be provided depending on weather and track conditions. (Newswire)

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Police have arrested two individuals in separate raids for illegally storing diesel without the required permits, seizing over 465 litres in total. 

Both suspects were taken into custody on Thursday (19) following tip‑offs received by local Police Divisions.

Officers from the Katunayake Police Station raided a location in the Hinnatiyana area last night and arrested a 40‑year‑old resident of Minuwangoda. 

The suspect was found in possession of 410 litres of diesel without a legal permit. 

He was handed over to the Katunayake Police Station, which is conducting further investigations.

Meanwhile, the Police in the Mudaliyawela area of the Chilaw Division arrested a 73‑year‑old resident of Ilappadeniya. 

Acting on information received, officers seized 55 litres of diesel stored without authorization. 

The suspect was taken into custody and presented to the Chilaw Police Station. Investigations are continuing. (Newswire)

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Japan’s Disaster Relief Team (JDR) has established a fully equipped mobile field hospital at the Chilaw Police Grounds to provide urgent medical care to communities affected by recent flooding. The facility will operate until December 15.

Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa inspected the hospital on December 12 and conveyed Sri Lanka’s gratitude to the Government of Japan and the JDR team for their rapid response during the emergency.

Operational since December 4, the Type 1 field hospital offers daily services from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., treating over 100 patients per day. It serves residents of Chilaw and surrounding areas, supplementing services while the Chilaw District General Hospital remains partially impacted by floodwaters.

Established in coordination with Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Health, the field hospital ensures continued access to essential healthcare for those displaced or affected by the disaster.

Dr. Jayatissa noted Japan’s longstanding support during times of crisis, highlighting the JDR team’s prompt arrival and efficient medical services as critical to local recovery efforts.

The inspection was attended by Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Akio Isomata, World Health Organization Representative to Sri Lanka Dr. Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav, senior health officials, and local authorities.

The JDR contingent comprises 31 medical personnel—including specialist doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and laboratory technologists—supported by a 15-member auxiliary team handling logistics and coordination. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Navy has seized around 742 kilos of Kendu leaves along with 03 dinghies during two separate operations in Chilaw this week.

According to the Navy, the raids were conducted in the Negombo Lagoon and Karukapane Lagoon on Sunday (09) and Monday (10). 

SLNS Kelani, belonging to the Western Naval Command, recovered 16 packs of Kendu leaves weighing approximately 513kg from a suspicious dinghy during a search operation near the Kotalawala Bridge in the Negombo Lagoon.

In another search operation conducted by the Rapid Action Boats Squadron (RABS) Headquarters in the Northwestern Naval Command in the Karukapane Lagoon, naval personnel seized about 229kg of Kendu leaves in 06 sacks, from 02 dinghies.

The stocks of Kendu leaves held in Negombo and Karukapane have been handed over to the Customs Preventive Office, Katunayake and the Excise Special Unit, Chilaw, respectively, for legal action. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Navy has rescued 04 Indian fishermen on a distressed fishing boat off the western coast of Sri Lanka on Sunday. 

According to the Navy, the coordinated Search and Rescue operation was conducted based on information from the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Colombo.

The MRCC Mumbai in India had alerted its counterpart in Colombo about an Indian fishing boat that went missing, without any communication link, on 29 June due to severe weather conditions. 

Responding swiftly, the Sri Lanka Navy launched a dedicated Search and Rescue operation, deploying Fast Attack Craft from the Western Naval Command. 

The operation made way for the rescue of 04 Indian fishermen, who were stranded off Chilaw after their fishing boat encountered distress at sea. The fishermen were found to be residents of Minicoy Island, India. 

They were safely brought to Dikowita harbour, where the Sri Lanka Navy and Coast Guard provided essential support. Following initial medical checks, the fishermen were handed over to the Wattala Police Station for further procedures.

This marks the second successful rescue of Indian fishermen by the Navy in collaboration with the MRCC, Colombo, within just two weeks. (Newswire) 

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A Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) bus has veered off the road and crashed into a tree near the Deduru Oya bridge along the Chilaw- Puttalam Road.

It is reported that the accident took place around 11.30 am today while the bus was plying from Point Pedro to Colombo.

Passengers in the bus who were injured in the accident have been admitted to the Chilaw General Hospital. (Newswire)

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A 29-year-old woman has been arrested for the possession of a large stock of prescription drugs in Chilaw on Saturday. 

According to the Police, the woman, driving a van, was inspected at a Police checkpoint near Deduru-Oya Road on the Chilaw-Puttalam main road.

During the inspection of the vehicle, the Police had found 64 boxes of prescription drugs, while the female driver had been unable to explain the medicines. 

Based on suspicion over the woman’s response, the officers arrested her and took into custody the medicines and the van. 

An inquiry from the Regional Director of Health Services Office in Madampe found that the medicine could not be possessed or transported without a prescription. 

The Chilaw Police is conducting further investigations. (Newswire)

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A lawyer from Chilaw has been arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for allegedly sending sexually harassing text messages to a female High Court judge via Facebook Messenger.

According to the Police, the suspect lawyer has sent messages through Messenger that were deemed uncomfortable for the High Court judge.

The 62-year-old lawyer was arrested yesterday (21 May) on the instructions of the Attorney General, after which he was due to be produced in court.

Providing details on the incident, Police Spokesman SSP Buddhika Manatunga said the lawyer had sent various types of messages to the High Court Judge through social media. 

He further said that following the High Court Judge’s complaint, an investigation was initiated by recording the suspect’s statements.

“We sent the investigation file to the Attorney General, who instructed us to take further action against the suspect under Section 345 of the Penal Code, on charges of Sexual Harassment. The suspect was arrested based on this,” the Police Spokesman said. (Newswire)

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A multi-vehicle collision has been reported near the Inigodawela Railway Crossing on the Chilaw- Colombo main road today. 

It is reported that seven persons were injured in the accident that occurred this morning and have been admitted to the Chilaw Hospital. 

As the railway crossing was closed to allow the passage of a train, a van had been waiting in line behind a bowser.

A container that had come from behind had crashed into the van, forcing it to crash into the bowser in front. 

The Chilaw Police is conducting investigations into the incident. (Newswire)

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Two youths, aged 20 and 22 years, have been reported missing while bathing in the Deduru Oya in Chilaw yesterday.

According to the Police, the two individuals, residents of Katugasthota and Galagedera, were reported missing last evening.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that the incident occurred when the duo, along with a group of friends, had travelled from Kandy to Chilaw on a leisure trip to the area.

The Chilaw Police, together with the Sri Lanka Navy, are conducting a search operation to find the two missing youths. (Newswire)

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The post-mortem examination into the recent triple death in Chilaw has revealed that the throats of the woman and her daughter had been slit before being set on fire. 

The post-mortem examinations into the deaths of the 55-year-old man, his 44-year-old wife, and their 15-year-old daughter, were conducted at the Chilaw Teaching Hospital this afternoon. 

The male victim had been engaged in land-related business, while his wife was an Economic Development Officer of the Munneswaram area attached to the Chillaw District Secretariat and their daughter was a Grade 10 school student.

Following reports of a fire at a two-storey house last morning, the Fire brigade had dispatched vehicles, by which time the ground floor had been destroyed by the fire. 

As the doors and windows were locked along with the gate, there was no initial report of anyone inside the house or not. However, after dousing the fire, firefighters and area residents found three burnt bodies inside the house. After informing the Police, preliminary investigations found that three members of the same family had died in the fire.  

The post-mortem examination of the woman had been conducted first, during which it was revealed that she had been stabbed 6 times with a sharp weapon on her neck. According to the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO), it is suspected that she had probably died on the night of October 18 due to excessive bleeding and the body was burnt the next day.

The post-mortem examination of the daughter found 02 cuts on the neck, and it is suspected that she was killed on the night of October 19.

Meanwhile, the JMO has given an open verdict following the post-mortem examination conducted into the death of the man.

Police investigations have found that the man had obtained loans from several persons prior to his death, while it was found that he had also requested his wife to allow the sale of a land belonging to her. 

Further investigations have also found that gold jewellery worth Rs. 2.5 million had gone missing from the house two months ago, but there was no evidence of a break-in.

The Police state that as the couple had been continuously fighting over the two issues, it is suspected that the man may have murdered his wife and child, had later set fire to their bodies and then died by suicide. (Newswire) 

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The body of a 09-year-old girl has been found at a house in the Samindugama area in West Iranavila, Chillaw last evening.

According to Lankadeepa, the Police stated that the body was found hanging on a rope inside the house.

The Crimes Investigations Unit of the Chilaw Police Headquarters has launched an investigation, considering it a suspicious death.

Investigations have revealed that the mother of the child had been employed overseas over the last two years.

The father of the child is reported to have been watering the garden at the residence at the time of the incident.

The body of the child has been placed at the Marawila Hospital. (NewsWire)

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