Traffic to be restricted on Colombo-Avissawella road

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Private vehicles will no longer be allowed to enter the Yala National Park without a guide from the Department of Wildlife.Mahinda Amaraweera, Sri Lanka's Minister of Agriculture, Wildlife & Forest Resources Conservation told News 1st that this decision is temporary and will be in effect until the investigation on the reckless joy-riding incident inside the Yala National Park is complete.He said that the Department of Wildlife will report the matter to the Tissamaharama Court to institute necessary legal action.In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture, Wildlife & Forest Resources Conservation is conducting its own investigation on the six tour guides, and one forest ranger who were present at the time of the reckless joy-riding incident inside the Yala National Park.A total of seven Park Rangers have been interdicted until the investigations are over, and they are charged with dereliction of duty, and for their direct or indirect involvement in the incident.The matter was also raised during Wednesday's (26) cabinet briefing, and Minister Bandula Gunawardena.

The country’s active caseload has declined to 19,798, while the total tally of covid cases has risen to 4.46 crore so far New Delhi: India reported 2,208 new covid cases in the last 24 hours, as per the union health ministry data on Friday. The country’s active caseload has declined to 19,798 while the total tally of covid cases has risen to 4.46 crore so far. The death toll has increased to 5,28,999 so far with 12 fatalities reported in a day.

The manager of a Scots nursery where a baby boy choked to death has been convicted of failing to ensure children were adequately monitored during mealtimes.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Former Parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake was turned away from the Bandaranaike International Airport by Immigration and Emigration Department officials on Friday (28) morning.Airport Immigration and Emigration said the former politician was turned away based on a court order barring overseas travel.Ranjan Ramanayake speaking to News 1st said that an overseas travel ban was imposed on him with regard to case filed over the distribution rice during the COVID-19 pandemic era.Ramanayake said the case was concluded and the overseas travel ban was lifted, however the relevant agencies had not been informed of the matter.He said that action will be taken on Friday (28) to resolve the matter, adding that he was to fly to the United States of America to attend an event.

By paying a nominal add-on premium, employees can upgrade their cover, which can even be continued in a personal capacity post-employment Employee benefits insurtech Healthysure has partnered ManipalCigna Health Insurance to launch India’s first flexi top-up insurance which allows employees to personalize and upgrade their corporate health insurance plans. By paying a nominal add-on premium, employees can upgrade their cover, which can even be continued in a personal capacity post-employment. They are thus able to eliminate the need of buying independent personal health cover and also save up to 90% of premium spending.

Justin Bieber and Shawn Mendes are investing time in their spiritual side…

WASHINGTON (AP) - Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez called Monday for freezing all U.S. cooperation with Saudi Arabia, delivering one of the strongest expressions yet of U.S.

cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in 2023, according to recent estimates. These cost-of-living adjustments have been in place since 1975 as a way to adequately keep pace with inflation. The COLAs are based on increases in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of the previous year to the corresponding quarter of the current year, according to the Social Security Administration. Beneficiaries can expect the final COLA to be released on Thursday following the release of the inflation figures for September, according to the Senior Citizens League, a group that lobbies for older adults. An 8.7%-boost would be the highest COLA increase since 1981 when the inflation adjustment was 11.2%. For the average retiree who got a monthly check of $1,656 this year, an adjustment of 8.7% would boost the payment by $144.10, the Senior Citizens League said. FILE - In this photo illustration, a Social Security card sits alongside checks from the U.S.

REDDING, Calif. - Who knew getting injured by a runaway bull at a rodeo would actually lead to a cancer diagnosis? Paige King didn’t think so. The 25-year-old from Redding, California, said she took a trip to the local rodeo with her boyfriend back in May. King said during the last run, a bull broke out from the arena and was on the loose among spectators. RELATED: Genetically modified herpes virus shows promise in killing advanced cancer, study says"I looked to my left, and then all of a sudden, I look right back, and he’s [the bull] just coming right over the barrier right on top of us," she continued. King said she doesn’t exactly remember what happened next. "It’s something no one would ever think that would happen," Paige King said."I end up going to the ground, and all I can really remember after that is him [the bull] just picking me up," she added. King said she didn’t notice pain at first but her back eventually started to hurt. She said she believes the runaway bull’s hoof scraped her back leaving her with scratches, bruises, and fractures— which have now healed. But that was only the beginning of her medical journey. King said while getting checked out, doctors noticed a lump in her throat. She was then diagnosed with thyroid cancer. "I was just kind of taken back in shock.

Waiting period: When you buy a health insurance policy, your coverage doesn’t start immediately. This restriction protects insurers from misuse of such policies to cover pre-existing ailments and pre-anticipated immediate medical costs. However, even during this period, medical expenses due to accidents are covered.

Eugene Lamont Sneed, 23, was out on bond in relation to a 2020 domestic violence charge when he allegedly poured the boiling hot water down the throat of his daughter on Sunday, who is only 1, according to FOX 17. A man in Alabama allegedly poured boiling water down his 1-year-old baby's throat while he was out on bond in relation to a domestic violence charge.Eugene Lamont Sneed, 23, was out on bond in relation to a 2020 domestic violence charge when he allegedly poured the boiling hot water down the throat of his daughter on Sunday, who is only 1, according to FOX 17.Niktoria Lett, the mother of the 1-year-old, Royalty, said that the baby was left alone with Sneed, who is the baby's father, on Sunday. When Lett got back to the apartment, she saw Royalty's face "all messed up," according to FOX 10."I get in the apartment and my whole my, my baby face is just messed up," Lett explained.

Singapore is transparent about the adverse reactions due to the vaccination and its Health Science Authority publishes all reported adverse reactions every three months. He also warned about the evolving nature of the Covid-19 virus which may turn up into any other variant and increase the level of threat. "Come December, we don't know what kind of variant will come up or what kind of variant will arrive in Singapore.

PARIS, FRANCE - JANUARY 23: Ye is seen, outside Kenzo, during Paris Fashion Week - Menswear F/W 2022-2023, on January 23, 2022 in Paris, France. (Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images) Rapper Kanye West, or "Ye," has found his Instagram account temporarily restricted, according to a spokesperson from Meta, the social media app’s parent company. The spokesperson said because of the restriction West is unable to post, comment or send direct messages from @kanyewest.Meta didn’t comment on why West’s account was restricted.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Today’s exchange rates from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka:USD Buy 359.1671 Sell 369.9156GBP Buy 399.4396 Sell 415.2984EUR Buy 349.8950 Sell 364.6177JPY Buy 2.4607 Sell 2.5639AUD Buy 228.9209 Sell 239.7898

The Cactus Plant Flea Market Box (Credit: McDonald's USA, LLC) McDonald’s adult Happy Meals have gone viral, so much so that McDonald’s staff are drowning in orders and are now begging the public to stop ordering them, according to multiple reports and posts on social media.  The fast-food chain announced Tuesday a collaboration with Cactus Plant Flea Market to create a boxed meal that contains one of four collectible figurines: Grimace, the Hamburglar, and Birdie and Cactus Buddy. Meal options include a Big Mac, or the 10-piece Chicken McNuggets with french fries and a drink. The announcement had adults running (or maybe more like driving) to their local McDonald’s to snag a box. The adult meals are only available for a limited time, which is probably why McDonald’s employees are feeling the sting of handling an avalanche of orders for the specialized meals. People on social media claiming to be McDonald’s workers are venting their frustrations on Reddit and TikTok as orders pile up for the coveted adult Happy Meals and staff struggle to meet demand. One user on Reddit posted under the title: "New Adult Happy-meals are killing me" and said workers need to "literally stockpile them (happy meals) to survive a rush." Another person commented under the Reddit post, saying their McDonald’s location allegedly ran out of boxes the first day they received them and then ran out of toys on the second day.  "And on the third day we had to say the truck doesn’t come till tomorrow.

ORLANDO, Fla. - The Orlando FreeFall drop tower ride at ICON Park will be torn down following the tragic death of 14-year-old Tyre Sampson, who fell out of the ride's restraints in March while visiting Florida for Spring Break, the attraction's operators announced on Thursday.In a statement, CEO of Orlando Slingshot Ritchie Armstrong said the company decided to take down the 430-foot drop tower ride to respect Sampson's family's wishes, as well as public outcry over the boy's death. "We have listened to the wishes of Tyre’s family and the community, and have made the decision to take down the FreeFall" - Orlando Slingshot CEO Ritchie Armstrong"We are devastated by Tyre’s death. We have listened to the wishes of Tyre’s family and the community, and have made the decision to take down the FreeFall," Armstrong's statement read.

Mulayam Singh ji is still critical and on life saving drugs, he is being treated in the ICU Medanta hospital, Gurugram, by a comprehensive team of specialists." Samajwadi Party patriarch has been under treatment since August 22 for his regular medical checkups and examinations. On Sunday suddenly his health deteriorated after which he was shifted to ICU in Medanta Hospital. Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav and enquired about his father Mulayam Singh Yadav's health, said sources.

More arrests are “futile,” British Columbia’s attorney general says as he rebuffed criticism of government policies on repeat offenders and violent crime across the province.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

The Internal Revenue Service headquarters building appeared to be mostly empty April 27, 2020 in the Federal Triangle section of Washington, D.C. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Time is running out for the millions of Americans who requested a tax deadline extension earlier this year to file their 2021 income returns without a financial penalty. The roughly 19 million taxpayers who asked for an extension earlier this year now face an Oct.

INDIALANTIC, Fla. - The mayor of a Florida town was arrested after police said he hit another man in the face with a rake while they were cleaning up a park in Brevard County after Hurricane Ian. David Berkman, 59, is facing a misdemeanor battery charge.According to an affidavit from the Indialantic Police Department, the victim – Melvyn Chang – and Berkman were both in Orlando Park in Indialantic on Friday assisting with cleanup efforts after Hurricane Ian spread debris across the area. Police said Chang was sitting on a picnic table recording Berkman after Berkman allegedly made several comments about "kicking his a**," the affidavit stated. MORE NEWS: Florida deputy, 21, shot and killed while serving warrant in Polk City, sheriff saysThe report went on to say that "after several minutes the defendant walked up and shoved a leaf rake with a plastic end into the face of the victim causing the rake to hit the victims phone and his face."The victim reportedly captured the incident on his cellphone. No other information has been released about the incident.

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court is taking up an Alabama redistricting case that could have far-reaching effects on minority voting power across the United States.The justices are hearing arguments Tuesday in the latest high-court showdown over the federal Voting Rights Act, lawsuits seeking to force Alabama to create a second Black majority congressional district. About 27% of Alabamians are Black, but they form a majority in just one of the state’s seven congressional districts.The court’s conservatives, in a 5-4 vote in February, blocked a lower court ruling that would have required a second Black majority district in time for the 2022 midterm elections.A similar ruling to create an additional Black majority district in Louisiana also was put on hold.A law enforcement official stands in front of the U.S.

Truck crashes into bridge in Radnor. RADNOR, Pa. - A tractor-trailer crash is causing traffic delays in Radnor Tuesday morning.Police say the bridge strike has caused King of Prussia Road to shut down between Radnor Chester and Matsonford roads.A photo from the scene shows the top of the truck stuck under the overpass.

WILDWOOD, N.J. - Hurricane Ian may have run its course through Florida, but the deadly storm isn't finished with the Jersey Shore just yet. Angry waves are tearing through sand dunes, causing major flooding across the New Jersey coast. The beach in Wildwood has narrowed since chunks of sand have been washed away in the surf.

Covid-19 damaged the DNA in heart tissue, which was not detected in influenza samples. Notably the researchers also found that while Covid-19 and influenza are both severe respiratory viruses, they appeared to affect cardiac tissue very differently. "In comparison to the 2009 flu pandemic, Covid has led to more severe and long-term cardiovascular disease but what was causing that at a molecular level was not known," said Arutha Kulasinghe from the University of Queensland, Australia.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Today’s exchange rates from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka:USD Buy 359.1618 Sell 369.9103GBP Buy 396.3452 Sell 412.4602EUR Buy 349.9242 Sell 364.6306JPY Buy 2.4669 Sell 2.5686AUD Buy 231.3223 Sell 242.2604

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES - 2020/05/19: Construction workers wearing protective face masks on site. National Grid resumed the North Brooklyn "MRI" Pipeline construction by allegedly authorizing themselves to continue, despite the risks of the A recent survey reveals that not all drivers can recognize and understand different road signs despite having their licenses for many years. Myvision.org surveyed more than 1,060 drivers about road signs and other distractions they face when behind the wheel.

CHICAGO - Chicago police said a little boy was killed in West Lawn on Friday night in what was apparently a road rage incident.The gunman brazenly shot into a car with four children inside, with Mateo Zastro, 3, becoming yet another victim of Chicago’s senseless violence. "We will not rest until those responsible for this senseless and cowardly act of violence are brought to justice," 8th District Commander Bryan Spreyne said. The attack happened around 8:30 p.m. Friday. Police said Mateo was riding with his mom and three siblings near 44th & West Marquette Road.

Rita Wilson still has a "persistent cough", more than two years after contracting COVID-19. The 65-year-old singer-and-actress and her husband Tom Hanks were the first famous faces to come forward and reveal they had contracted the virus in the early days of the pandemic in March 2020 and though the 'Asteroid City' star is still feeling the effects of the illness, she feels "very lucky" that things aren't worse. Asked if her breathing and therefore her singing had been affected by the virus, she said: "It was.

ArriveCAN, mask mandates among changes as Canada drops COVID-19 border rules Federal officials announced earlier this week that a cabinet order affecting mandatory vaccinations, testing and quarantine of international travellers would not be renewed as the new month began.That means travellers to Canada no longer need to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19, while wearing a mask on planes and trains is now optional.British Columbia residents Joanne and Ted Parker say they would have preferred to see the rules stay in place for masks, which are still recommended.“I think they’re an excellent protection,” Joanne Parker said while waiting at Pearson International Airport, just west of Toronto.“And if one person wears them it’s not that helpful, but if everybody wears them it’s really helpful.”But she said she’s already come to terms with the likelihood that mask rules are gone for good.Earlier this week, when the couple flew into Pearson, they noticed some people were flouting the restrictions days before they were lifted, including one fellow passenger who she said ignored a flight attendant’s request to keep their mask on.“I didn’t like it, but I wasn’t going to say anything because I thought at the end of the week it’s going to be OK anyway,” she said.Ted Parker suggested there were “plusses and minuses” to lifting the final COVID-19 travel restrictions.

WISSAHICKON - An apparent road rage situation led to the shooting of a 37-year-old man in Philadelphia's Wissahickon section.According to officials, 5th District officers were called to an alleyway near the 3900 block of Manayunk Avenue, just off the 300 block of Hermit Street Saturday night, around 9:30, on a report of gunshots.When police arrived, they found a 37-year-old man suffering with at least three gunshot wounds and the alleged shooter was also on location.Philadelphia Police Inspector D.F. Pace explained an apparent road rage incident took place on Ridge Avenue between the driver of a white Jeep SUV and the driver of a large, dark-colored Chevrolet van.Somewhere on Ridge Avenue, the driver of the Chevy got out, approached the Jeep and pounded on the hood of the vehicle.Inside the Jeep was a male driver, his wife and 7-year-old child.The driver of the Chevy got back into his vehicle and drove off, according to Inspector Pace, but the driver of the Jeep pursued the Chevy, down Ridge, onto Hermit Street and into the alleyway, with the Chevy crashing into two vehicles parked on the Manayunk Ave.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The President and the Minister of Defence, Ranil Wickremesinghe has issued an extraordinary gazette revoking the order issued declaring the High Security Zones. On Friday (23), Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe declared multiple areas in Colombo as High Security Zones.

FILE - Flowering field of industrial hemp. ( John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images)Vermont dispensaries are set to begin selling marijuana for recreational use, though only three will be ready to do so on opening weekend.FLORA Cannabis in Middlebury, Mountain Girl Cannabis in Rutland and CeresMED in Burlington will all open on Saturday.

A higher rate of illness benefit for people who miss work due to Covid-19 comes to an end today.

A study today in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report shows that US nursing home residents who received a second mRNA COVID-19 vaccine booster dose 60 days earlier were 26% protected against Omicron infection, 74% against hospitalization or death, and 90% against death alone.

Flamingos stay safe from Hurricane Ian inside a bathroom at Sunken Gardens in St. Petersburg, Florida (photo courtesy Sunken Gardens). ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - As Hurricane Ian came ashore Wednesday, millions of Floridians either evacuated or hunkered down at home.

Protesters hold signs in front of the South Carolina Statehouse as lawmakers debate an abortion ban. (Sean Rayford/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) COLUMBIA, S.C. - Abortion laws in South Carolina almost certainly won't get more restrictive, after Republicans in the General Assembly could not agree on a total ban on the procedure during a special legislative session Tuesday.South Carolina was for decades at the forefront of more restrictive abortion laws that challenged Roe v.

Pierre Poilievre has overtaken Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the candidate seen as the best choice to lead the country, a new poll suggests.The Ipsos poll conducted exclusively for Global News found 35 per cent of Canadians surveyed believe Poilievre is the best candidate for prime minister, while 31 per cent said the same of Trudeau, who trails the new Opposition leader in a majority of provinces — including Ontario. 1 in 3 Canadians believe Trudeau should stay in power as Tories edge ahead: poll Those numbers mark the latest sign of trouble for Trudeau’s Liberals, who are facing an increasingly dissatisfied public that polling suggests is concerned with affordability and inflation.“Now that Mr.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka said that two fuel dispensers at a Colombo 7 filling station were sealed.These fuel dispensers were used to dispense 92 Octane Fuel, and the PUCSL uncovered a short delivery of 1.2% per litre of 92 Octane Petrol which is Rs.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Former Indian Minister of Commerce, Law & Justice Subramanian Swamy met with Former Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in Colombo on Wednesday (28).He was accompanied by several Indian lawyers and businessmen.Subramanian Swamy is in Sri Lanka for the 15th International Research Conference on “Economic Revival National Security & Sustainability through Advancement of Technology & Innovation" organized by the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University in Colombo.

COLOMBO (News 1st) -HOPE worldwide, a leading international humanitarian organization in the United States, has facilitated a generous in-kind donation of urgent medicinal supplies worth $2,740,498.32, an estimate of Rs.

HONOLULU – The Department of Health (DOH) is enhancing the Hawai‘i COVID-19 data dashboard to include reinfections. The percentage of COVID-19 cases involving individuals who had a prior infection is growing over time and now accounts for about 10% of new confirmed cases.“The data on reinfections underscores what we have been saying; that limited immunity from previous infection only lasts so long.

The Chief Executive of the Health Service Executive, Paul Reid, has said the Covid-19 Pandemic Special Recognition Payment has been made to 123,000 employees so far.

Khosta viruses have been reported yet. Seifert et al.

Abigail Disney attends Firehouse DCTV's Cinema For Documentary Film Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Sept. 20, 2022, in New York City. (Photo by Santiago Felipe/Getty Images) NEW YORK - Abigail E.