Several persons have been reported missing following an earthslip in Polpitiya, Hatton today (03).

Police said a mound of earth collapsed onto a house, trapping several individuals.

Search and rescue operations are currently underway, according to Police. (Newswire)

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The decision on whether schools in the Hatton and Nuwara Eliya education zones of the Central Province will remain open amid adverse weather has been entrusted to the principals of the respective schools.

According to the Provincial Director of Education, principals have been authorized to determine whether classes should be conducted under the prevailing heavy rainfall and unsafe conditions.

The Chief Secretary of the Central Province has also instructed that schools in the affected zones be closed as necessary, citing the severe rainfall and deteriorating weather. (Newswire)

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The suspect wanted in connection with the double murder of an elderly couple in Dikoya, Hatton, is yet to be arrested, contrary to earlier media reports of him being rearrested, the Police said. 

According to the Police Media Division, the suspect was arrested and had been taken to the Kandy National Hospital yesterday (27) due to an illness.

However, he had escaped while under the supervision of prison officials and remains at large.

The Police further refuted media reports claiming he was rearrested, clarifying that the suspect had not yet been arrested after his escape. 

The suspect is accused of murdering a husband and wife in the Hatton-Dickoya town area before fleeing with gold jewellery.

The couple, who were residing inside a shop in the town, were found murdered on Friday (22). (Newswire)

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Police in Hatton have launched investigations into the suspected murder of an elderly married couple found dead inside their residence in the Dikoya area on Wednesday night.

According to the Police, the victims, a 75‑year‑old woman and her 85‑year‑old husband, were discovered with cut injuries inside their home. 

Initial inquiries revealed that the couple had been living alone at the time of the incident.

The Police confirmed that the deaths are being treated as a case of homicide. 

The motive behind the killing has not yet been established, and further investigations are underway by the Hatton Police. (Newswire)

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The Criminal Investigation Division of Hatton Police has appealed to the public for assistance in locating a suspect who attempted to break into two Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) of a private bank in Hatton town.

Police said the suspect arrived at the bank branch in the early hours of Monday (04) and tried to remove two ATMs to steal money. The attempt failed, and the suspect fled the scene.

The bank’s management has lodged a complaint with Hatton Police, submitting CCTV footage and photographs showing the suspect attempting to dismantle the machines.

The Hatton Police Criminal Division has urged anyone with information about the suspect to contact the Hatton Police Criminal Investigation Division immediately via the hotline +94 76 167 0258. (Newswire)

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One person has been reported dead in the bus accident in Hatton today.

According to the Police, the victim is a 70-year-old man. 

The Police further said that 34 others have been injured and steps have been taken to admit them to the hospital. 

The incident occurred when a passenger transport bus fell into a precipice in the Badalgala area on the Hatton – Dayagama Road. 

The Police added that investigations are underway into the incident. (Newswire)

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A passenger transport bus toppled into a precipice along the Hatton–Dickoya main road this afternoon, the Police said.

According to the Police, the bus had been travelling towards Hatton at the time of the incident.

Media reports, citing hospital sources, state that at least 20 passengers have been injured in the incident. (Newswire)

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A young Dutch woman who got lost on the mountain top of the Singimale Nature Reserve in Hatton was safely rescued by police officers attached to the Hatton Police Station.

Police said the 20‑year‑old, identified as Luna Tuugat, is a university student from Amsterdam, Netherlands.

She had arrived in Sri Lanka with fellow students and was studying at the University of Ruhuna under an affiliated programme. On April 6, she joined friends in climbing the Singimale mountain top for a research activity.

While attempting to view the summit, she lost her way inside the reserve and was unable to return. After notifying officials, a search operation was launched with the assistance of Hatton Police.

Following extensive efforts, officers located her seated on a rock at the summit, rescued her safely, and escorted her to the Hatton Police Station. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) Hatton depot is set to introduce a safari bus service to promote tourism in the area.

The bus has been refurbished from an older vehicle obtained from the Ratmalana depot and redesigned as a tourist safari bus.

Approximately Rs. 4 million has been spent on the project, and the bus is fitted with 42 seats and equipped with a sound system, air conditioning and a television. It has also been modified to allow open-roof and window access for sightseeing purposes.

The service is expected to operate covering tourist attractions, including the Sri Pada and areas within the Nuwara Eliya district. (Newswire)

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Motorists in the Nuwara Eliya and Hatton Police Divisions can now pay traffic fines online through the Gov Pay system, introduced jointly by the Ministry of Digital Economy, the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), and LankaPay.

The official inauguration and awareness program took place on Feb. 2, 2026, at the Nuwara Eliya District Secretariat.

The event was held under the patronage of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police for the Nuwara Eliya District, Priyantha Chandrasiri, and DIG of the Traffic and Road Safety Range, W. P. J. Senadheera.

Representatives from ICTA and LankaPay provided technical instruction to police officers on implementing the online payment system.

ICTA Project Manager Udari Withanage, Technical Officer Inuka Mayakaduwa, and LankaPay Project Manager Amila Ekanayake led sessions on system usage and public awareness efforts. DIG Senadheera delivered the keynote address.

During the program, smartphones were symbolically issued to officers to support the rollout of the digital payment process.

The Gov Pay system allows motorists to pay fines online and immediately reclaim their driving licenses upon completion. Officers in the Central Province are available to assist the public with using the system. Users may also choose to pay fines later by following directions provided on the Gov Pay platform. (Newswire)

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A group of individuals reportedly attacked a supermarket-style retail shop on Side Street in Hatton on Jan. 28, following its opening.

The incident caused damage to refrigerators used to display the fish and meat products, according to local reports.

The shop owner had opened the business and begun selling fish and chicken prior to receiving approval from the municipal council, it was reported. (Newswire)

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A 31-year-old woman wanted for financially defrauding Rs. 4.5 million from the public has been arrested in Hatton.

According to the Police, the Hatton Magistrate’s Court had issued a warrant on the woman. 

The suspect, a 31-year-old resident of Badulla, was arrested near the Hatton Railway Station yesterday.

The woman is accused of financially defrauding the public in various areas by promoting low interest rates for loans on social media. (Newswire)

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Three persons have been reported injured in a fire that erupted in a line house in the Shanon Watta area in Hatton last night. 

The Police said the injured persons had been admitted to the Dick Oya and Nawalapitiya Hospitals.

The fire had spread across 24 line houses causing severe damage, while the cause is yet to be ascertained.

However, the fire had been doused with the help of the Police, together with the Hatton Firebrigade and area residents. (Newswire)

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Officials of the Sri Lanka Wildlife Department have rescued a 06-month-old leopard cub and safely returned it to the wild. 

The Wildlife Department stated that the leopard cub had ventured into a house in the Hatton area on 25th February after which the owner of the house had locked it inside a room and informed wildlife officials.

Wildlife officials had safely removed the leopard cub from the room and had made arrangements to keep it out in the wild for its mother to find it.

The leopard cub was placed in a box and left outside in a safe area on 27th February 2023 during which a young leopard had inspected it and left.

The Wildlife Department stated that, however, on 1st March, the mother of the leopard cub had arrived at around 09.00 pm and taken the cub along with her back to the wild. 

The Department confirmed that the mother and cub are safe and together in the wild.

Video: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=242244551486521&extid=CL-UNK-UNK-UNK-AN_GK0T-GK1C&mibextid=1YhcI9R&ref=sharing (NewsWire)

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