Author: Buzzer Editorial

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday (Apr 21) he would indefinitely extend the ceasefire with Iran, hours before it was set to expire, to allow the two countries to continue peace talks to end a war that has killed thousands of people and shaken the global economy.Backing down from threats of new violence earlier in the day, Trump said in a statement he had agreed to a request by Pakistan, which has mediated peace talks in the seven-week-old war, until Iran’s “leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal”.Trump also said he decided to extend the ceasefire…

A new low-floor bus service that gives priority to persons with disabilities and special needs was launched today (21) from the Makumbura Multimodal Center (MMC).The service was inaugurated under the patronage of Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, Bimal Rathnayake.Accordingly, ten specially designed low-floor buses have been introduced into the transport service today. These buses are specially designed so that wheelchair users, visually impaired passengers and also expectant women can board the bus with ease, the Transport Ministry said.Each bus has 30 passenger seats and separate seating areas have been allocated for passengers using wheelchairs.The pilot project operates on…

A suspect has been arrested for allegedly defrauding Rs. 1,000,024 by creating a fraudulent website resembling an official website of a private bank.Investigations were launched following a complaint received by the North Western Province Unit of the Computer Crimes Investigation Division (CCID), police stated.Accordingly, the suspect was arrested yesterday (20) and brought to the Wariyapola Police Station.The suspect has been identified as a 22-year-old resident of the Minuwangoda area, police said.He is scheduled to be produced before the Kurunegala Magistrate’s Court today (21), while the North Western Province Unit of the CCID is continuing further investigations into the incident.

Officials in Japan have warned of an increased risk of a ‘‘huge’’ earthquake in the next week after a 7.7 magnitude quake struck off the north-east coast, triggering an evacuation order and warnings of 3m (10ft) tsunami waves.Thousands of people were told to leave coastal areas for higher ground after the quake in waters off Iwate prefecture, 530km (330 miles) north of the capital Tokyo.The biggest tsunami waves measured 80cm. Tsunami warnings and advisories were lifted hours after the quake on Monday.But Japan’s meteorological agency has warned that quakes ‘‘causing even stronger shaking’’ could occur in the next week, producing…

An ‘Amber’ advisory has been issued by the Department of Meteorology for severe lightning in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-Western, North-Central, Southern and Uva provinces and in Mannar, Vavuniya, Ampara, and Batticaloa districts.The advisory issued at noon today (21) will be in effect until 11.30 p.m.Accordingly, thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur at some places in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Northwestern, North-Central, Southern and Uva provinces and in Mannar, Vavuniya, Ampara, and Batticaloa districts after 1.00 p.m.There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers, it added. The general public has been requested to take adequate precautions to…

The Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has announced a new set of procedures to be followed by multi-day fishing trawlers navigating through Maldivian waters.The Director General of the Department, Susantha Kahawatta, stated that these measures must be adhered to by all multi-day fishing vessels entering the Maldivian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) while en route to the Arabian Sea for fishing activities or when returning after completing their operations.It is noted that vessels entering Maldivian waters in violation of that country’s laws and regulations are liable to be detained by security authorities. Furthermore, Maldivian authorities impose heavy fines for the…

The government has moved to expedite compensation payments to farmers affected by crop losses resulting from the salinity barrier constructed across the Nilwala River in Matara.The barrier, implemented in 2019 by the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) as a special project to prevent saltwater intrusion into the district’s drinking water sources, has since been linked to recurring damage to paddy cultivation due to its irregular construction.Cultivated lands in several areas, including Dikwella, Kamburupitiya, Kekanadura, Madiha, Malimbada, Meda Uyangoda, Kalalla, and Wilpita, have been continuously damaged over the years.Although farmers and farmer organizations repeatedly raised this issue with previous…

Two close associates of organized criminal and large-scale drug trafficker Salindu Malshitha, also known as “Panadura Kudu Salindu,” have been arrested in the Payagala area.Preliminary investigations have revealed that the two suspects had been secretly residing in Payagala while distributing narcotics in surrounding areas.The suspects were apprehended during a special raid conducted in the early hours of today (21) in the Nirmalawatta and Kumburugoda areas of Payagala, based on information received by the Walana Central Anti-Corruption Striking Force.The arrested individuals have been identified as a suspect nicknamed “Pettha” (Pathum) and another known as “Kaviya” (Kavindu).Police have taken into custody 42,350…

The Archbishop of Colombo, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has alleged that certain state officials are attempting to undermine ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, despite what he described as a positive approach by the incumbent government. He made these remarks while attending a memorial service held today (21) to mark seven years of the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks.The Cardinal questioned whether political forces linked to those officials may have been involved in the attacks, asking why there would otherwise be repeated obstacles to uncovering the truth.The Archbishop of Colombo also stated that the Presidential Commission of Inquiry,…

The US will not lift its blockade on Iranian ports until a deal has been reached with Tehran, US President Donald Trump has said, amid continuing uncertainty over whether fresh talks to end the war will take place.The blockade, which began a week ago, is “absolutely destroying Iran”, Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social, adding his country was winning the conflict “by a lot”.His comments come with the temporary US-Iran ceasefire set to end on Wednesday, but with no certainty over whether a second round of peace talks will go ahead in Pakistan.There is tightened security in…