Defence Secretary has instructed the Sri Lanka Air Force to keep a Bell 412 helicopter on standby at the Diyatalawa Air Force Base for the potential airlift of patients injured in yesterday’s bus accident to Colombo for further treatment.

The accident occurred around 7:45 AM on Friday, November 1, at Ambagas Junction on the Dunhinda-Badulla road, involving a bus transporting 42 individuals from the Southern Campus of the Kotelawala Defence University (KDU). The group comprised 36 students from the 39th KDU Intake, three lecturers, an instructor in charge, a senior military officer, and the bus driver.

Tragically, two female students lost their lives in the incident, identified as residents of Kurunegala and Nivithigala. Forty others sustained injuries and were hospitalised at the Badulla General Hospital, where seven are in the intensive care unit, and one is in critical condition.

The KDU Vice-Chancellor said that arrangements for the funerals of the deceased students will be made with full university support. Preliminary investigations revealed that the accident may have resulted from a mechanical fault in the bus. A thorough investigation will be conducted to ascertain the cause.

The Ministry of Defence extends its heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a swift recovery to the injured. It also thanks local residents for their prompt action in rescuing the injured and commends Dr. Palitha Rajapaksa and the hospital staff for their immediate and dedicated response.

For the first time in Sri Lanka, the government is to establish a mechanism to supervise and advice ministries in the implementation of policies, a source said.

A tense situation was reported at the UNP party headquarters in Sirikotha when a group of UNP supporters arrived to hand over a document on reviving the party.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Harsha de Silva said today that an NPP MP has told him that the Parliament canteen will not be closed but the government will see that no one will abuse the facility.

Two fishermen were seriously injured and hospitalised after a parcel floating on the sea exploded while they were checking it off the coast of Mannar.

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) and the Examinations Department have initiated a joint programme to mitigate potential disasters during the 2024 Advanced Level examinations.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake addressed the inaugural session of the 10th Parliament of Sri Lanka today. Following are 11 key points from the President’s Government Policy Statement;

Speaker Dr. Ashoka Sapumal Ranwala informed Parliament that nomination of Sajith Premadasa, leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), has been accepted as the Opposition Leader of the 10th Parliament of Sri Lanka.

Jaffna District Independent MP Archuuna Ramanathan refused to move away after he sat on the Opposition Leader's seat inside the chambers despite requests by Parliament staff to move.

National People's Power (NPP) Gampaha MP Dr. Ashoka Sapumal Ranwala was elected as the Speaker of the 10th Parliament of Sri Lanka a short while ago. Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya proposed his name, and the nomination was confirmed by Vijitha Herath.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake adjourned the Sri Lankan Parliament until 9:30 a.m. on December 3. The adjournment followed the President’s delivery of the government’s policy statement during the inaugural session of the 10th Parliament earlier today.