SriLankan Airlines has issued a statement on an incident involving its Sydney‑bound flight UL606, which departed Colombo early today (12) and was forced to return to the Katunayake Airport (BIA) due to adverse weather conditions. 

Earlier today, reports stated that the flight was forced to make an emergency landing at the Katunayake Airport after it experienced a lightning strike on one of its engines shortly after departure.

Issuing a statement, the airline confirmed that the aircraft landed safely with 207 passengers and 16 crew members on board, soon after the incident.

SriLankan Airlines further said that the flight later departed at 05:51 am using a replacement aircraft and continued its journey to Sydney.

The airline emphasised that the safety and wellbeing of passengers and crew remain its highest priority, adding that it will continue to take all necessary measures to uphold the highest standards of safety across its operations. (Newswire)

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Patients of a retired dentist from Sydney, Australia, who practised for more than 25 years, have been urged to get tested for blood-borne viruses.

Blood-borne viruses spread when infected blood or other bodily fluids are passed from one person to another, including through contaminated needles or splashes and spatter of contaminated blood or saliva.

NSW Health issued the extraordinary public health alert on Wednesday, advising all patients of Dr William Tam to see their GP and ask for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV testing.

Tam practised at Albert Road in Strathfield, in Sydney’s inner-west, NSW Health said.

The alert said that while the risk is low, a recent audit of Tam’s premises by the Dental Council of NSW identified concerns about infection control practices at the premises, as well as patient record keeping.

Tam is retired and is no longer a registered dentist.

The clinical director of public health for the Sydney Local Health District, Dr Leena Gupta, said thousands of people may have been seen by Tam while he practised, but there are no records that can be used to contact those patients. 

“The poor infection control practices at Dr Tam’s practice means all former patients may be at low risk of a blood-borne virus infection, which can have serious and long-lasting health impacts,” she said.

“As a precaution, we are asking all of Dr Tam’s previous patients to seek testing for blood-borne viruses.”

Gupta said that people with HIV, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C may not have any symptoms for decades.

“So it is important that people at risk of these infections are tested, so that they can access treatment as appropriate. There are effective treatments available for all three conditions.”

Dr Zeina Najjar, a staff specialist in public health for the Sydney Local Health District, said an audit conducted in April identified inadequate sterilisation of equipment and poor cleaning.

“For this reason, concerns were raised for blood-borne virus transmission,” she told a press conference on Wednesday afternoon.

None of the patients have been diagnosed with a blood-borne virus, she said, adding auditors could not confidently identify all potentially affected individuals due to poor record keeping, prompting the public appeal.

The audit was a result of a complaint made to the Dental Council of NSW, Najjar said, but she did not detail the nature of that complaint or say when it was made.

“Patients who underwent invasive dental procedures – so those where instruments may have pierced the skin or the root of the tooth or the gum, or drawn blood – would be at a slightly higher risk,” she said. “But overall the risk, including to those patients, is considered to be low.”

Najjar said she could not comment on why Tam retired.

Former patients of Tam with further questions can speak to their GP or contact Healthdirect on 1800 022 222. (The Guardian)

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Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath has expressed his condolences to the victims of the attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia.

“Deeply saddened by the attack at Bondi Beach. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Australia and reaffirm our strong opposition to terrorism in all its forms,” he said in a post on ‘X’. 

Two gunmen opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday night, killing 15 people who ranged in age from 10 years old to 87.

State health officials said at least 40 people remained hospitalised as of Monday morning, including several people in critical condition.

The gunmen were a father and son, according to New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon. The 50-year-old attacker was killed in a shootout with police, while the 24-year-old remains in hospital. (Newswire)

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Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Arun Hemachandra says no Sri Lankans in Australia were reported to be harmed in the series of shootings that occurred at Bondi Beach on Sunday.

Speaking to Newswire today, the Deputy Minister Hemachandra noted that Sri Lankan authorities are continuing to monitor the incident.

Two gunmen opened fire, targeting crowds gathered at Bondi Beach in Sydney, claiming the lives of 15 people and injuring 42 others, including two police officers.

Reports reveal that the gunmen had targeted the Jewish community’s religious festival ‘Hanukkah,’ which was scheduled to be held yesterday at Bondi Beach with the participation of around 1,000 people. (Newswire)

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A 60-year-old man was arrested Monday in Australia after police said he fired up to 100 bullets at passersby, injuring 20 people in the country’s most populous city.

New South Wales police said they were called on Sunday evening to a street in Sydney’s Inner West, where the alleged gunman was firing at random cars and police. One man with a gunshot wound transported himself to the hospital following the incident, police said. He is in a “serious” condition.

Another 19 people were treated for shrapnel or shattered glass injuries, with several taken to the hospital, authorities said.

Acting New South Wales Police Superintendent Stephen Parry said “anywhere between 50 and 100 shots” were fired between 7:45 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. local time on Sunday night in Croydon Park, a suburb of Inner West.

A large contingent of police swarmed the area and locked down the street before entering a unit above a business and arresting a 60-year-old man. They seized two rifles from the scene. 

The accused shooter was also taken to the hospital and treated for wounds sustained during his arrest, police said. No charges have been filed against the alleged gunman yet.

Joe Azar, who was working across the road, told the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper that he heard what he thought were fireworks or rocks being thrown at windows.

“Some guy’s windshield blew up, then the bus stop glass shattered,” he told the newspaper. “The surreal feeling kicked in like, ‘Oh, this is what’s happening.'”

“It was frantic. It all happened so quick, so I couldn’t comprehend what was going on,” he added.

New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon described the shooting as “serious and terrifying.” The gunman’s motive was unclear but there were “no known links to terrorism activity or any gang activity,” he told local radio station 2GB. A police investigation is ongoing. (CBS News)

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The High Commission of Sri Lanka in Canberra conducted a mobile consular service in Sydney, New South Wales, recently (26) for the convenience of the approximately 30,000 Sri Lankans living in Sydney. 

According to the Sri Lankan High Commission, this initiative formed part of the High Commission’s broader efforts to enhance consular services for Sri Lankans living in Australia.

The mobile consular service was conducted at the Sinhalese Cultural Forum of New South Wales in Seven Hills, Sydney, which is an area where a large number of Sri Lankans live. Volunteers from the Sinhalese Cultural Forum, along with other associations in Sydney, including the Tamil and Muslim communities, assisted officers of the Sri Lankan High Commission in successfully conducting the service.

The mobile consular service received an enthusiastic response from the Sri Lankan community, with a large number of individuals in attendance. 

Approximately 120 persons were assisted with a range of consular services, including passport applications, birth certificate issuance, and dual citizenship applications.

The Sri Lankan High Commission states that the feedback received from the Sri Lankan community indicated that the mobile consular service was highly valued and deeply appreciated by Sri Lankans living in New South Wales. (Newswire)

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A prominent bishop in Sydney, Australia has been rushed to hospital after being stabbed multiple times during a service.

Video, posted on social media, shows Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel allegedly being attacked at Wakeley’s Christ The Good Shepherd Church while delivering his sermon on Monday night.

The confronting footage shows the Bishop speaking when a younger man dressed in black calmly walks up to him.

The Bishop looks at the man, who then makes a stabbing motion to the face and neck area.

The Bishop then falls to the ground and his condition is not known.

Screams are heard from the crowd, as several people rush forward to try to help.

The camera then pans away.

The footage was taken from a livestream from the church’s YouTube page.

NSW Ambulance told NCA NewsWire paramedics were called to the scene about 7.15pm on Monday.

A spokesman said a man aged in his 50s was taken to Liverpool Hospital with multiple stab wounds.

Three other people were also injured and are still being treated at the scene.

A man aged in his 30s suffered multiple lacerations, a man in his 20s recieved a cut to his hand, and a man in his 60s was wounded to his arm.

Dozens of police raced to the scene where it is understood an angry crowd has gathered.

In a statement, NSW Police said an operation was underway in Wakeley, following reports of a stabbing.

“Officers attached to Fairfield City Police Area Command attended a location on Welcome St, Wakeley following reports a number of people were stabbed,” police said.

“Officers arrested a male and he is assisting police with inquiries.

“The injured people suffered non-life threatening injuries and are being treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics.

“The community is urged to avoid the area.

“More information will be provided once it becomes available.”

The attack comes just three days after six people were killed during a stabbing massacre at Sydney’s Bondi Westfield Shopping Centre.

There is nothing to suggest the two events are linked.

The Bishop gained prominence during the Covid-19 pandemic after describing Sydney’s lockdown as “mass slavery”.

He also claimed vaccines were futile because living “normally” would boost immunity.

“Are we humans? Because we are being treated like animals,” Bishop Emmanuel said in a sermon in 2021.

“They are encouraging people to go and take a vaccine and stay at home. They have had enough.”

He has a large following on social media, including TikTok and Facebook. (news.com.au)

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