Deputy Minister of Tourism, Ruwan Ranasinghe, has announced that the Badulla-Haputale train service, which was affected due to Cyclone Ditwah, is ready to resume service after 18 days. 

In a post on social media, Deputy Minister Ruwan Ranasinghe said that an inspection train successfully travelled from the Badulla Railway Station to the Haputale Railway Station yesterday (15), marking the successful effort to restore train operations post-disaster. 

He further said that the restoration of this heavily damaged railway line in such a short time is a significant step in strengthening the backbone of Sri Lanka’s tourism sector.

“​We extend our gratitude and admiration to the dedicated workers of the Sri Lanka Railway Department, the National Building Research Organisation, and all the volunteer organisations who worked tirelessly to accomplish this challenging task,” he added. (Newswire)

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Three suspects have been arrested for defrauding an elderly woman from Haputale of Rs. 96,298,759.58 that she had won from a lottery ticket.

According to reports, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) arrested the three suspects, including a lottery sales agent.

The suspects had defrauded the elderly woman of her prize money, which she had won under draw number 1630 of the Dhana Nidhanaya lottery on 18 September 2024. 

It is reported that the lottery sales agent, together with two accomplices, had fraudulently obtained the prize money instead of the elderly woman. 

A probe conducted by two special investigation units of the CID had led to the arrest of the suspects. (Newswire)

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The Uva Provincial Council has announced plans to establish a new tourism zone in Haputale, aiming to boost international interest in Sri Lanka through the globally recognized “Ceylon Tea” brand.

The proposed site spans approximately four acres of underutilized grassland in the Kahagalla area of the Panketiya Grama Niladhari Division, within the Haputale Divisional Secretariat.

The upcoming Kahagalla Tourism Zone will feature a Ceylon Tea Heritage Museum and a botanical garden, transforming the area into a vibrant destination for both local and international visitors. (Newswire)

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Two people were reported dead and 14 others injured in an accident reported at the 48th milepost along the Haputale- Beragala Road today.

The Police said a van with 16 passengers had met with an accident, during which two had succumbed to injuries after being admitted to hospital.

Initial investigations reveal that the van had suffered a mechanical failure due to which the driver had crashed onto a large boulder by the road to stop the vehicle. 

The Police said the deceased are a 55-year-old woman and a 65-year-old man, both residents of Horana. (Newswire)

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