Parliament calls for soft copies of all reports; Limited hard-copies

Freddie Flintoff's son says that his dad is "lucky to be alive" after a horror crash as health and safety teams start an investigation.

Twitter followers flocked to the post to comment.Mary-Jo Caira wrote: "So happy for you. Wishing him much health & progress in the next coming months."Lottie Moss gets new 'lover' face tattoo on drunken night"That is so good news.Sending love to you all," Veni Pishtalova typed.Kieran added: "Hopefully home safe and sound my friend."Sophie Grenham commented: "I have everything crossed for you, Victoria.Sending love to you all at this stressful time."The Pogues' frontman was rushed to hospital earlier this month after falling ill with viral encephalitis, a medical condition which causes inflammation in the brain.He also contracted shingles, which spread to his eye.Victoria previously said that doctors were “confident he will be OK” and thanked fans for their well wishes.Shane has dealt with multiple health issues over the years.He has been confined to a wheelchair since shattering his pelvis in 2016. Chloe Madeley's husband James Haskell shares fears about daughter [REVEALED]Wednesday star ‘needs own space’ from famous husband [INTERVIEW]Gemma Atkinson shares family 'heartbreak' over Strictly exit [REACTION]In 2020, he also damaged his knee after a fall at home.Since the incident years six years ago, Victoria has been his full time carer.The pair have been together for over 35 years and tied the knot in Copenhagen in 2018.Earlier this year, Shane said he was grateful to wake up in the morning following his health woes. He told Spectator: "I’m not a morning person, but I am glad to be alive, so I’m grateful to wake up."I have beautiful carers who come and get me out of the bed and into the lime green chair.

Blue's Clues original host Steve Burns recently revealed that his co-star Donovan Patton stepped up and took care of him while he was sick with COVID.The 49-year-old actor told PEOPLE that he and Patton - who took over as host of the children's show when Burns left in 2002 - 'have been friends for a long time now.'Burns continued: 'I know his family. He took care of me when I had COVID.

 

Colombo (News 1st) – President Ranil Wickremesinghe has said that new laws to ensure food security are expected to be introduced in the future.He made this statement while briefing representatives of the Joint Mechanism Committee on Food Security and Nutrition.Plans are being made to present the related bills to parliament soon, President Wickremesinghe said.He also highlighted the need to obtain accurate data in establishing food security and the nutritional status of the people.Speaking at the meeting, the President stressed that there have been disparities in the data available at the national level and at the regional level which should be rectified immediately, a PMD statement added.

BERNICE Blackstock has been standing on the side-lines from all the drama in the Dales. But she faces dementia fears when she begins to act out strangely towards fellow Emmerdale residents. The PampaManda beautician portrayed by Samantha Giles is thrown back into the spotlight in scenes due to air on ITV next week.

With a steady fall in covid cases across the country, several state governments have eased travel norms and mandatory wearing of masks. NEW DELHI: India reported 408 fresh coronavirus infections in the last 24 hours, while active cases fell to 5,881, according to an update by the Union health ministry on Thursday. Total reported cases in the country since the pandemic hit in 2020 now stands at 4,46,70,483, and death toll at 530,601.

Ice Cube lost out on a $9 million project — all because he refused to do the responsible thing and get the COVID-19 vaccine before filming started.

₹10 lakh around five years ago. He had even paid a premium of ₹61,000 ( ₹12,200 per annum) thereafter. But, after his wife Neeshu Tripathi was admitted to a hospital for the delivery of their first child, Shukla found that he was only eligible for a reimbursement of ₹50,000 towards maternity benefits.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Kalaikathir News Paper From Jaffna had revealed that Samant Kumar Goel, the Chief of the Research and Analysis Wing of India, also known as RAW recently visited Colombo on a highly classified visit.The Research and Analysis Wing is the foreign intelligence agency of India, and the Kalaikathir News Paper From Jaffna has reported the visit citing highly credible sources.The Kalaikathir News Paper From Jaffna reported that Samant Kumar Goel met with Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo.It also reported that the meeting with the President was also highly confidential.The President's Media Division is yet to make an announcement on the visit, and the meet.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Ministry of Education says that a report has been called for on several incidents where it was reported that school teachers had reported to school in attire, which is not the Saree or Osariya.A senior official said that to protect the dignity of the teaching profession, they are investigating why teachers decided to deviate from the practice followed for decades.The principals of the respective schools and regional education directors were instructed to provide an immediate report on the matterHe said that every teacher has a responsibility to protect the dignity of the role of a teacher, especially in the presence of the students.The Education Ministry had noted that teachers are not permitted to enter schools in the attire that they prefer.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Health Entomologists Association says that the number of dengue patients across 20 MOH divisions is considerably high.The Chairman of the Health Entomologists Association Najith Sumanasena said that several MOH divisions in the Western Province are considered dengue high-risk areas.He requested the general public to ensure to keep their surroundings clean to prevent the spread of dengue in those identified MOH divisions.Over 55,500 dengue cases have been reported in the country so far this year, twice the number reported in 2021.

The second reading of the 2023 Budget was passed in Parliament on Tuesday (22) by a slim majority of 37 votes.Votes in Favor: 121Votes Against: 84Abstentions: 1The debate on the second reading of the Appropriation Bill began on November 15th, and the voting for the second reading took place on Tuesday (22) evening.The debate on the committee stage of the Appropriation Bill is scheduled to be held from November 23rd to December 8th, and the voting will be held on December 8th at 7.00 pm.Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said that all Sri Lanka Freedom Party MPs who are connected to the government decided to vote in favour of the second reading of the budget today (22).Meanwhile, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, the People's Freedom Congress, and the National People's Power have decided to vote against it.The Tamil National Alliance decided not to take part in the voting process for the Second Reading of the 2023 Appropriation Bill.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Sri Lankan government has decided to release 50 fuel bowsers daily to meet the kerosene needs of the fishing community.Last week, the Petroleum Corporation had approved the release of 357 kerosene bowsers to meet the fishing community's needs. However, the fuel stations had only obtained 206 bowsers (58%).

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Cabinet has granted approval to amend the Local Authorities Elections Ordinance to increase youth representation at Local Government Institutions.Acting Cabinet Spokesperson Shantha Bandara told reporters that Colombo District MP Premanath C.

The Scottish Parliament's COVID-19 Recovery Committee will meet with employees and service users of two Lanarkshire employment support organisations next week.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Consumers across the country have pointed out that there is a shortage of cooking gas in the local market, adding that most sellers do not have sufficient stocks of LP Gas.Litro Chairman Muditha Peiris speaking to News 1st said that most distributors are not delivering cooking gas cylinders to traders on credit, and they are currently engaged in cash-only business.Therefore, he added that many small-time traders are finding it difficult to procure gas.However, as a solution the distributors have been instructed to deliver gas to small-time traders on loan facilities, said the Litro Chairman.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – An Italian man and a Sri Lankan who were arrested over a foreign employment racket were remanded to the 5th of December.Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) arrested four people including an Italian from a hotel in Badulla for conducting interviews for employment opportunities in Romania, violating Sri Lankan laws.The two other Sri Lankans were released on personal bail of Rs. 500,000/- each.The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment said that the men had published ads on Facebook for employment opportunities in Romania and conducted interviews, without any approval from the SLBFE.Around 30 people responded to the online ad and were presented for interviews in Baduall when the arrests were made.It was also reported that candidates were being charged around Rs.

India's active cases have also declined to 6,209. Covid-19 cases in India have been declining for the past few days as the country is reporting single-day rise of less than 500 infections.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Third Secretary of the Sri Lankan Embassy in Oman E. Kushan is alleged to have committed sexual abuse, and engaged in the trafficking of Sri Lankan women for sex. However, he denies these claims and told EXCLUSIVELY to News 1st that these allegations are fabricated and have no ground. On Sunday (21) several former expats visited News 1st and expose startling details, and the said Third Secretary of the Sri Lankan Embassy rejected all the allegations as baseless. "While talking he put his arms around me, and I tried to push him away. I told him that that was not what I came for and I came to speak.

Senior NHS bosses have reportedly discussed making wealthier Scots pay for treatment as the health service struggles to meet demand.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lankan Wildlife Officials managed to save a Wild Elephant that had its trunk stuck inside a barrel of moonshine in Minneriya.This operation lasted around 5-hours.According to the locals, the wild elephant with its trunk stuck inside the barrel was located close to the Minneriya Army Camp, and after alerting the officials a rescue operation was launched.Wildlife personnel from the Girithale, Moragahakanda, and Anuradhapura offices were rushed to the scene.The elephant was first tranquillized and then after a five-hour operation was set free.The wild elephant was released back to the Minneriya Forest Reservation after administering treatment to its wounds.Note: Archive images used for this report.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – More than five thousand Sri Lankans have travelled to Dubai on visit visa for exmployment, revealed Sri Lanka's State Tourism Minister Tharaka Balasuriya on Monday (21).The State Minister also said that 19 Sri Lankans who had travelled to Abu Dhavi have also refused to return to Sri Lanka.'These groups are trying to travel to Oman for employment,' said the State Minister adding that most people are interested in overseas employment opportunities given the current situation in the country, however, stressed that it is important use official channels to travel overseas for employment.The State Minister also said that a proper study will be conducted to control the use of visit visa for employment overseas.The situation surrounding overseas employment in the Middle East reached national level condemnation after reports surfaced that Sri Lankan women were being auctioned and sold as sex slaves in Oman.Suspects Arrested:On Saturday 19th October 2022, Sri Lanka's Immigration and Emigration Department arrested a 40-year-old man at the Katunayake Airport for engaging in human smuggling.He was arrested when returning to Sri Lanka from Dubai, and was identified as a resudent from Wattala who was operating a Foreign Employment Agency in Maradana, Colombo 10.Thereafter, on Sunday (20) another suspect connected to the human trafficking ring was arrested from Avissawella.He was identified as a broker who sends Sri Lankan women to the Middle Easter, where they are smuggled from Abu Dhabi to Oman to be sold as sex slaves.The suspect was arrested based on the complaints made filed by Sri Lankan women stranded in the Middle East.Foreign Employment Agencies in hot water:The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment over

As fresh restrictions are imposed in parts of China against the new outbreaks of the Covid-19 virus, the country has reported its first death in nearly half a year. China saw the death of an 87-year-old man from Beijing, bringing the death count to 5,227. His death was first reported by the National Health Commission.

Colombo (News 1st) – The Anti Leprosy Campaign at the Health Ministry on Saturday (Nov. 19) warned of an alarming rate in the spread of Hansen's Disease (most commonly known as Leprosy) among school children in Sri Lanka. Around 15 percent of the cases reported this year were among school children, Dr.

carries two copies of a gene linked to an increased risk of , reported on November 18. The middle Hemsworth brother, 39, made the discovery while filming Limitless, his forthcoming National Geographic docuseries about “pushing back on the natural decline that comes with time and aging,” per VF.On the show, Hemsworth called the discovery “my biggest fear." Though the results are not a guarantee of an Alzheimer's diagnosis, Hemsworth says they make him “8-10” times more likely to develop the disease. “It really triggered something in me to want to take some time off,” Hemsworth told VF in an interview. “And since we finished the show, I've been completing the things I was already contracted to do.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The earthquake that was reported off the coast of Indonesia on Friday (18) poses NO Tsunami threat to Sri Lanka, confirmed the Met Department of Sri Lanka.Sri Lankan authorities said that there is no threat to the people living in the coastal areas of Sri Lanka.A 6.9 Magnitude Earthquake reported 212 km close to Bengkulu, Indonesia, confirmed the United States Geological Survey.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka states that the Police Chief take the necessary steps to maintain discipline in Sri Lanka Police to uphold the rule of law and maintain the peace.It has also requested the Inspector General of Police to justify the reasons for restricting a protest march in Panadura last weekend.The HRCSL said it is conducting a suo-moto investigation on the incident where the Chief Inspector of Kalutara pushed and shoved two female police officers and a female, and the orders to stop the peaceful march unlawfully and arrest the participants.A peaceful march originating from Kalutara was stopped by the police in Panadura as admitted by the Chief Inspector of Panadura police before the Commission on 18th November 2022, reported the HRCSL.The Police Chief was directed to forward to the Commission via an affidavit the reason for restricting the march and on whose command or orders the police stopped the march, who carried those commands or orders, and the action initiated by the police against the officers responsible.The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka also observed that the Senior Superintendent of Police for the Panadura Police division had failed to protect the march participants by giving the necessary orders. The HRCSL stressed that the inappropriate behaviour of the police, as seen in the recent past, has already destroyed the confidence of the people and is rapidly destroying the country's good image internationally.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Dr. P.

 COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Sri Lankan mission in Oman has made it clear that if people are entering the Sultanate of Oman for employment, they must enter through the proper channels.The announcement came following multiple News 1st revelations about Sri Lankan women being trafficked to Oman using visit visa, and sold for sex.Earlier this week, News 1st revealed that 12 Sri Lankan women who were taken against their will to Oman after flying to Abu Dhabi on a visit visa, remain unaccounted for, and an extensive investigation is underway locally and overseas.An investigation by Sri Lanka's Criminal Investigations Department revealed that traffickers were taking away Sri Lankan women to Oman on visit vias, and they auctioned them to the highest bidder for sex.Following News 1st revelations, reports have emerged of several other women who remain missing after being taken to Oman. Some reports claim these women have been detained against their will.Fathima Hameedia is one Sri Lankan woman who remains unaccounted for in Oman.A 22-year-old mother of one, Fathima Hameedia is a resident of Palakkadu, Batticaloa and she left for Oman on the 6th of March on a visit visa.She had travelled overseas via a Foreign Employment Agency, however, several days after leaving the country she went missing."It's been nine months since my daughter went missing.

NEW DELHI : New Delhi-based Aakash Healthcare Pvt. Ltd on Wednesday said it has acquired Asia Med Centre in Uzbekistan’s Tashkent for $4 million. The upgraded 60-bedded multi-speciality hospital will be opened to public on 23 November.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lankan women are being taken to Abu Dhabi in the UAE using Visit Visa, and are being taken away to Oman against their will where they are being auctioned to the highest bidder.According to reports obtained by News 1st, a group of 12 women have been taken to Oman by force.The group of women were taken away to Oman on Tuesday (16), and since then their mobile phones are switched off.Shashikala is one of them, and her husband stepped forward to speak to News 1st on the issue."They are kept in an office and were told that jobs will be given on Monday. I don't have many details.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – It has been reported that the Sri Lankan government had taken a decision to restructure domestic debt.This was revealed in the first-ever report produced by the Sub-Committee in identifying short and medium-term programmes related Economic Stabilization of the National Council.Appointment of the Sub-Committee:The Resolution to constitute the National Council, moved by Dinesh Gunawardena, the Prime Minister was approved by Parliament on 20th of September 2022.According to the above Resolution, the National Council shall have general responsibilities and jurisdiction over three main areas. One of them is to agree on short and medium-term common minimum programmes in respect of the stabilization of the economy.At the first meeting of the National Council which was held on 29th of September 2022, the Secretary-General of Parliament, presenting the way forward of the Council, suggested to appoint a Sub-Committee to recognize short and mediumterm programmes for the stabilization of the economy. The members of the SubCommittee were announced as per the preferences indicated by them at the Second meeting of the National Council which was held on 6th of October 2022.The committee is chaired by Patali Champika Ranawaka and includes MPs Naseer Ahamed, Tiran Alles, Sisira Jayakody, Sivanesathurai Santhirakanthan, Wajira Abeywardana,  A.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka, India and several other countries abstained from voting on a draft resolution approved by the UN General Assembly that recognised that Russia must be responsible for making reparations to Ukraine.The draft resolution, ‘Furtherance of remedy and reparation for aggression against Ukraine’, introduced by Ukraine, was adopted on Monday (14) in the 193-member UN General Assembly by a recorded vote of 94 in favour, 14 against and 73 abstentions, including by India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Israel, Nepal, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka.Those voting against the resolution were Belarus, China, Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Russia and Syria.General Assembly resolutions are non-binding, but they carry political weight.The resolution, co-sponsored by nearly 50 nations, recognised that Russia “must be held to account for any violations of international law in or against Ukraine, including its aggression in violation of the Charter of the United Nations, as well as any violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and that it must bear the legal consequences of all of its internationally wrongful acts, including making reparation for the injury, including any damage, caused by such acts.” In March, 141 members of the General Assembly voted to denounce Russia’s invasion, and 143 in October voted to condemn Moscow’s attempted annexation of parts of Ukraine. India had also abstained on those two votes.

(CNBC) WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump announced Tuesday night that he was running for president in 2024, laying out an aggressively conservative agenda that includes executing people convicted of dealing drugs.“We are a nation in decline. We are a failing nation for millions of Americans,” Trump said in a speech at his Florida private club, speaking about President Joe Biden’s first two years running the nation.

A Lanarkshire school pupil has been hailed for her speech on mental health being read in Scottish Parliament.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Ministry of Health says that there are nearly 4,000 leprosy patients in society who have not been reported to the health authorities.The Director of the Leprosy Control Unit Dr Prasad Ranaweera said that there is a risk of leprosy spreading in society due to undocumented cases.He said during the first 7 months of 2022, over 450 leprosy patients have been treated in this country.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Monday (14) told Parliament that the economic reforms introduced are not limited to those agreed upon with the International Monetary Fund. "These proposed reforms by the International Monetary Fund are limited only to economic stabilization," he said.The President also said that "Our envisaged reforms and reorganizations are what the country has needed for a long time to build a new economy. This is a role that many governments have opted to ignore with popularity in mind.

COLOMBO (News 1st) –  The convener of the Inter-University Students Federation Wasantha Mudalige was presented to Tangalle Magistrate Hemantha Pushpakumara on Monday (14) afternoon following an order issued by the Supreme Court recently. Sri Lanka's Supreme Court on Thursday (10) ordered for the convener of the Inter-University Student's Federation Wasantha Mudalige to be produced to a Magistrate immediately.In addition, the Supreme Court also ordered for Mudalige to be produced to the Judicial Medical Officer of the Karapitiya Hospital.Wasantha Mudalige is being detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act for 90-days.Upali Mohotti, PC told reporters that the state had requested for Wasantha Mudalige to be produced in other cases to which counsel expressed strong objection."His 90-days of detention will be completed on the 18th of November. If he is being moved for other cases, it is an attempt to detain him further," said the counsel.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Sri Lankan Defence Ministry will grant a general amnesty from Tuesday (15) for all servicemen who are absent without official leave to officially discharge from service. The Defence Ministry said that the amnesty period will be from Tuesday (15) to the 31st of December.This amnesty will be awarded to the servicemen who had not reported to their respective stations on or before the 25th of October 2022.In addition, the Defence Ministry said that if the servicemen owe any dues to the military, those must be settled in full in order to be discharged from service.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) says it has requested a report from the Inspector General of Police regarding the incident of a police officer harassing two female Police officers.The Chairman of the HRCSL, Supreme Court Judge (Rtd.) Rohini Marasinghe said that the report is expected to be received on Monday (14) and further action will be taken as soon as the report is received.Meanwhile, the Chairman of the National Police Commission Chandra Fernando has also instructed the Inspector General of Police to investigate the incident.In addition, Police Spokesperson & Attorney Nihal Talduwa says that the Inspector General of Police has ordered the Director of the Police Special Investigation Unit to immediately launch an investigation regarding the relevant Chief Inspector of Police.A Police inspector grabbed the neck of two policewomen in the Gorakapola area in Panadura on Saturday (12) harassing them physically and forcing them to take action to arrest two other women who were engaged in a protest march.

PMD – President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as the Minister of Finance will present the 2023 budget to Parliament tomorrow (14) aimed at creating long-term, stable economic growth.The 2023 budget has given special attention to the sectors of capital market, export market, labour market and digital economy and it is expected to achieve the budget targets through the social market economy.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Eleven Sri Lankan fishermen along with two vessels have been arrested by the Indian Coast Guard under charges of illegally entering Indian waters.At the time, the fishermen were fishing in Indian waters, 175 nautical miles off the coast of Kalingapatnam in Srikakulam district.Indian media reported that the arrested fishermen have been handed over to the Kakinada Police Station for further investigations.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Applications have been called for qualified persons regarding the appointment of civil society members for the Constitutional Council established under the 21st Amendment.Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena stated that the relevant applications should be forwarded to the Parliament before 28th November.Accordingly, those who are not members of any political party who are considered acclaimed personalities in the spheres of their public or professional lives and have functioned with excellence and honesty can apply for the position.A discussion was held at the Parliament Complex under the Chairmanship of the Speaker last week to discuss the establishment of the Constitutional Council.It was held with the participation of Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva who was appointed as the President's representative.The Constituent Assembly consists of 10 members, including the Speaker, the Prime Minister, the Opposition Leader, a member appointed by the President, a member representing the party representing the Prime Minister, a member of the party representing the Leader of the Opposition, a member of another political party representing Parliament and 3 civil society representatives.According to the 21st amendment, the Supreme Court judges headed by the Chief Justice, the President and judges of the Court of Appeal, the Attorney General, the Governor of the Central Bank, the Auditor General, the Inspector General of Police, the Secretary General of the Parliament, the Ombudsman of Parliamentary Affairs as well as the chairpersons and members for independent commissions should be appointed subject to the

Covid-19 update: In India, the active caseload has declined to 12,553, according to the Union Health Ministry data. India has reported a single-day rise of 833 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, taking the cumulative tally to 4,46,65,643, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Saturday. The country's active caseload has declined to 12,553, which accounts for 0.03% of the total coronavirus infections.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – An inmate who escaped from the Kandakadu Rehabilitation Camp has been found in the Welikanda, Sinhapura forest.It was reported that he was lost in the forest and that he was found during a search operation conducted by the army.Police Media Spokesman Nihal Thalduwa says that the escaped inmate who was ill due to the lack of food was hospitalised, and had died later.Last Sunday, a brawl broke out between two groups at Kandakadu Rehabilitation Camp over a bucket used for bathing.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – An audit report has revealed that a total of 158 million rupees for three years had been allocated for the drafting of a new constitution when the economy of the country was heading towards a downturn. The Auditor General's report revealed that a total of 20.8 million rupees had been spent to hold 38 meetings of the expert committee and 9 consultations with external parties to draft a new constitution from the 9th of October 2020 to the 12th of December 2021. The details were revealed in the Auditor General's report of the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Reform for the year ending 31st December 2021. A sum of 816,480 rupees had been spent for 3 office spaces that have not been used, and another 435,348 rupees had been spent to furnish those offices. Each constitutional expert on the committee to draft the new constitution WAS paid 25,000 rupees for every meeting that they attended which came up to a total of 3.1 million. The constitutional experts were also paid 120,000 rupees for their transport. A total of 10 million 180,000 rupees had been spent for the payment of the monthly allowance of 200,000 rupees to the secretary of the panel, the allowance for the research assistant, and several other allowances. 4,768,000 rupees had been spent during the period from October 2020 to December 2021 for office space at the BMICH. The Auditor General's report further states that although by the 31st of December 2021 the committee had completed 15 months, they had still not completed their task. 

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Authorities in Vietnam have reported that the skipper of the large migrant boat that was rescued by its Navy was not among those who were rescued.Vietnam media quoting the rescued Sri Lankans reported that the captain of the iron-hulled ship LADY R3 abandoned the boat after it started drifting at sea, and then did not return.A border guard commander of Ba Ria – Vung Tau province had also confirmed the information.A Sri Lankan man had reportedly said that his group had traveled from Sri Lanka to Myanmar and from there they had boarded the LADY R3 boat to travel to Canada by sea.It is unclear if all 303 Sri Lankans traveled together or in groups to Myanmar, and how they made it to Myanmar, as investigations are pending.Before 303 Sri Lankan citizens were rescued by the Helios Leader Vessel on the afternoon of November 6th, their ship had been stalled for nearly 40 hours, unable to maneuver and was drifting freely. On the afternoon of November 8th, when the SAR 413 vessel from the Vietnamese Coast Guard organized to welcome the 303 Sri Lankan citizens from the Helios Leader vessel to shore, initially four men got off the ship, the rest refused to get off despite the persuasion of the Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka, who took an entire hour to pursuade them to leave the Japanese freighter.At this time, the authorities considered the option for these four people to return to the Helios Leader, but they refused and said that if they returned, they would be beaten. Thereafter, all 303 Sri Lankans were taken off the Helios Leader in batches and brought ashore.For humanitarian reasons, the Ba Ria – Vung Tau Provincial Command for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue has arranged for 303