A major accident was narrowly avoided when a train driver and a wildlife officer acted swiftly to prevent a collision with a wild elephant crossing the tracks between Habarana and Palugaswewa.

The incident occurred as the Batticaloa–Colombo train was travelling through the area. 

Mobile phone footage captured the elephant crossing the railway line, highlighting the tense moments as the train approached.

Thanks to the driver’s quick reflexes, the train was brought under control, averting disaster. 

At the same time, a wildlife officer travelling in the engine spotted the elephant and alerted the driver, ensuring another potential accident was avoided. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Police have warned the public of the circulation of fake currency notes, following the arrest of four suspects with fake Rs. 5000 currency notes in various parts of the country.

According to the Police, one suspect was arrested with three counterfeit Rs. 5000 currency notes in the Habarana area yesterday.

Based on information from the suspect, the Police were able to arrest two more suspects in the Habarana and Anuradhapura areas with two counterfeit Rs. 5000 currency notes each. 

Further interrogations had led to the arrest of another suspect in the Pihimbiyagollewa area today with 138 counterfeit Rs. 5000 currency notes, a laptop, a scanner, and a printing machine. 

The arrested suspects are aged between 23 and 42 years, and are residents of Habarana and Anuradhapura. 

The Habarana Police is conducting further investigations. 

The public has been urged to be cautious of the currency notes used during transactions for the purchase of daily necessities. (Newswire)

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A wild elephant has been injured after being hit by the night mail train travelling from Trincomalee to Colombo in the Puwakpitiya area in Habarana last night.

It is reported that the incident occurred near the 128½ milepost between Habarana and Palugaswewa on the railway line.

According to a wildlife officer, the elephant struck by the train is estimated to be around 20 years old.

The elephant’s front right leg was fractured in the collision, and it was found lying near the railway track.

Wildlife officials stated that treatment for the elephant’s injured leg will begin today (04) at the Pandulagama veterinary unit.

Wildlife officers from Ritigala and Kekirawa are conducting investigations into the incident. (Newswire)

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A young elephant calf has been reported dead in a tragic accident near the Hiriwadunna reservoir on the Dambulla–Habarana road around 3:00 am today (27).

According to reports, the young elephant calf had been struck by a prime mover (bulker) while crossing the road.

The calf, estimated to be around ten years old, had been crossing the road with a herd of wild elephants to drink water from the Hiriwadunna reservoir when the collision took place. (Newswire/ Image – Accident1st)

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A Police Officer was reported dead and four persons including a 04-month old infant sustained injuries in an accident involving a tipper truck in the Habarana area along the Habarana- Trincomalee main road last night.

The Police said a group of Police officers had been on night vehicle inspection duty at the Gal-Oya Police checkpoint along the road at the time of the accident.

A tipper truck had knocked down two Police officers and had dragged along one officer eventually crashing into a car and a lorry due to the driver being unable to control the vehicle. 

The Police officer had sustained serious injuries and had died upon admission to the Habarana Hospital.

The other Police officer, a woman and a 04-month infant who had been travelling in the car, and the driver of the lorry had sustained minor injuries and had been admitted to the Habarana Hospital after which they had been transferred to the Dambulla Hospital.

The deceased Police officer has been identified as a 56-year-old resident of Kanatale who was attached to the Habarana Police Station and deployed on duty to the Gal-Oya checkpoint. 

The driver of the tipper truck has been arrested in connection to the accident, while the Athimale Police is conducting investigations. (Newswire)

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A car transporting a French family of three has met with an accident after colliding with a bus in the Mirisgoniyawa area on the Dambulla- Habarana Road this morning (Mar 04). 

It is reported that a bus travelling from Trincomalee to Colombo had collided head-on with a car travelling from Dambulla to Habarana. 

According to the Police, a French couple and their 12-year-old son had been travelling in the car at the time of the accident.

The child and driver of the car had sustained minor injuries in the accident and have been admitted to the Dambulla Hospital. 

The Police further said that a female Buddhist monk who was travelling in the bus had also sustained minor injuries in the accident and was also admitted to the Dambulla Hospital. 

The driver of the bus has been apprehended, while the Dambulla Police is conducting investigations into the accident. (NewsWire)

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The 59-year-old HR manager of a hotel group in Dambulla has been remanded for allegedly demanding a sexual bribe from a female hotel clerk to increase her salary.

According to Lankadeepa, the man was remanded until February 16, 2024, after being produced before Colombo Chief Magistrate Prasanna Alwis yesterday.

This is the first case to be filed by the Bribery Commission in connection with bribery in the private sector under Section 47(5) of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 09 of 2023.

Investigations have revealed that the suspect had offered a 75% allowance and an increase in salary to the female hotel clerk in exchange for a sexual favour. 

He was arrested when the woman was called over to a hotel room that had been reserved in the Habarana area. 

The raid was carried out after the woman had informed her hotel manager. (NewsWire)

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The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau has refuted media reports claiming it had granted approval for a music festival to be held on the outskirts of Habarana.

Issuing a statement, the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau said it categorically denies having provided any form of approval for the event, identified as the ‘Deep jungle festival’.

“It is implied in the above media release, that the SLTPB has provided approval for the staging of the deep jungle festival on the outskirts of Habarana. We Sri Lanka Tourism and the Ministry of Tourism categorically deny having provided any form of approval for the event,” the statement said. 

The Tourism Promotion Bureau further stated that, however, based on clearances obtained from other line agencies to stage this event and on submission Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau had provided endorsement from a Tourism perspective which too will be withdrawn unless necessary environmental clearance is obtained. 

“To the contrary, when all endeavours are to develop and promote tourism on a suitable platform together with the Ministry of Tourism. Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau strongly recommends the cancelling of the planned event if the organizers have not obtained the necessary environmental, Wild Life, Forest and other related agency clearances/approval,” the SLTPB statement added.

The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau also pointed out that it was important to develop a mechanism for all related organizations to work in consultation with an understanding and a good working arrangement, to avoid similar occurrences in the future.

The clarification comes after concerns were raised over the “Deep Jungle Music and Cultural Festival” which has been organized close to the Galoya Forest reserve from 17- 19th February 2023.

It was reported that an entity called Deep Jungle Entertainment (PVT) Ltd has organized the “deep Jungle Music and Cultural Festival” under the patronage of some of the Government authorities next to the “Galoya Forest Reserve”.

Concerns were raised as high noise levels could impact the wildlife in the area, as the Galoya Forest Reserve is a well-known elephant corridor in Habarana, which connects the Hurulu Eco Park to Kaudulla and Minneriya national parks. (NewsWire)

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