The Eppawala Lanka Phosphate Company has boosted its production capacity with the addition of new operational vehicles and machinery worth Rs. 110 million. 

The inauguration of these new assets was held under the patronage of Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Sunil Handunneththi.

The investment included a wheel loader machine costing Rs. 79 million, a tipper vehicle costing Rs. 18 million, and a John Lift machine costing Rs. 13 million. 

According to the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, at the event, appointment letters were also handed over to newly recruited drivers, strengthening the company’s workforce.

The ministry said in a statement that over the past 20 months, the company has achieved significant internal progress, spending Rs. 76 million to construct a new finished goods warehouse, install a modern trainer machine, and upgrade its official website with a Sales Hotline facility.

Looking ahead, the company has unveiled a new strategic plan for 2026–2030 aimed at ensuring maximum retail price stability of its products. 

Measures include launching an ERP sample system, providing affordable fertilizer to farmers, and registering a dealer network to strengthen distribution. 

The ministry states that the plan will help stabilize fertilizer prices and expand the company’s reach across the island. (Newswire)

The post Lanka Phosphate Company expands capacity with Rs. 110M investment appeared first on Newswire.

Villagers in Eliyadivulwewa, Eppawala captured a crocodile that had entered a garden and handed it over to officials of the Thalawa Wildlife Office on Sunday (23).

Residents said the reptile was spotted around 10.00 pm on Saturday (22) near the Eliyadivulwewa tank. 

With the help of people in the area, the crocodile was caught, tied to a tree, and Wildlife officers were informed. It was formally handed over yesterday.

This is not the first such incident at the same garden. On a previous occasion, another crocodile along with eggs and hatchlings found there were also captured and handed over to Wildlife authorities.

Wildlife officials confirmed that the newly captured crocodile will be released into the Wilpattu Reserve. (Newswire)

A crocodile that wandered into a home garden in Eliyadivulwewa, Eppawala, was captured by residents and handed over to wildlife officials. The crocodile was spotted in a garden bordering the Eliyadivulwewa tank. Wildlife officials said it will be released into the Wilpattu… pic.twitter.com/8D4ADERaYQ

— NewsWire (@NewsWireLK) August 24, 2026

The post Crocodile captured in Eppawala garden handed over to Wildlife appeared first on Newswire.

Police in Eppawala have arrested a Grade 12 student after he attacked five classmates with a sharp weapon inside a leading school in the town today (13).

According to the Police Media Division, the injured students, all Advanced Level technology stream pupils, were admitted to the Eppawala District Hospital with minor injuries. 

The Police stated that the assailant is a Grade 12 science stream student at the same school.

Investigations revealed that a previous dispute between the attacker and one of the injured students escalated into retaliation this morning, leading to the knife assault.

Reports indicate that after striking one student, four others who tried to intervene were also injured. 

The suspect was taken into custody along with the weapon. The Eppawala Police are conducting further investigations into the incident. (Newswire)

The post Student arrested after knife attack at Eppawala school appeared first on Newswire.

Residents in Sandarasgama, Eppawala, captured a crocodile that had approached a house and handed it over to wildlife officials today (24).

A passerby had reported a roughly 10-foot crocodile near the Thalawa–Eppawala main road last night, close to the Sandarasgama junction. Nearby residents caught the animal and tied it to a coconut tree.

Wildlife officers who were informed of the incident had taken the crocodile to Wilpattu Sanctuary around 10 a.m.

Villagers believe the crocodile came from the Eliyadivulwewa tank, about 200 meters away from where it was captured. A large crowd had gathered in the area to see the animal. (Newswire)

The post 10-foot crocodile captured near Eppawala home appeared first on Newswire.

The Sri Lanka Professional Principals’ Association has issued a statement today (14) clarifying facts regarding a principal of a primary school in the Eppawala area of Anuradhapura who was arrested with 1.185 kilos of heroin recently. 

The statement notes that although the arrested individual was identified as a “principal,” he is not a grade-holding principal in the Sri Lanka Principals’ Service.

According to the Professional Principals’ Association, it has now been confirmed that the individual is an officer of the Sri Lanka Teachers’ Service, and that he was serving in an acting capacity.

The statement further clarifies that the title “principal” should only refer to grade-holding officers of the Sri Lanka Principals’ Service.

The association adds that using the title “principal” for someone who is not a grade-holding officer is unfair to the Principals’ Service.

Moreover, the statement emphasizes that any future references to the individual should identify him as an “officer of the Sri Lanka Teachers’ Service.” 

The man is the husband of former National Peoples’ Power (NPP) Urban Councillor, Disna Neranjala, who is a relative of Kosgoda Suji, a known large-scale drug trafficker and criminal. (Newswire)

The post Heroin arrest: Suspect identified as Acting Officer, Not certified Principal appeared first on Newswire.

A 19-year-old youth who had made a post on Facebook allegedly threatening President Ranil Wickremesinghe has been remanded. 

The suspect allegedly uploaded a Facebook post regarding the possibility of finding a sniper ahead of the President’s scheduled visit to the Eppawala area on September 07.

According to reports, the suspect was arrested by officials of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).

The CID informed the court that investigations were underway to ascertain if there was any connection between this incident and the incident where an Army soldier residing in Eppawala fled with a T-56 weapon from the Kilinochchi Army Camp.

Taking into consideration the facts, the Colombo Magistrate’s Court remanded the suspect until September 08. 

The suspect is a 19-year-old resident of Mediyawa in Eppawala and employed as a bakery goods seller via three-wheeler, commonly known as ‘Choon paan’. (NewsWire)

The post Angry Facebook post gets 19-year-old remanded appeared first on Newswire.