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Lorry with sugar hijacked
Driver stabbed, cleaner killed

BATAPOLA - An armed gang waylaid a lorry carrying a load of sugar and hijacked it after killing the cleaner and grievously injuring the driver on the Galle Road in Ambalangoda.

The gang had obstructed the lorry, bound for Weligama from Colombo, with a load of sugar valued at Rs. 5 lakhs, by placing their van across the road at around 7.00 p.m.

According to the Kosgoda Police two men had got off the van and approached the lorry. They had asked the driver whether the finance had been paid. All of a sudden they had dragged the driver and cleaner out and forced them into their van where the rest of the gang was. They had then driven off in the lorry towards Colombo with the van following. After some time they had stabbed the driver eleven times and pushed him out onto the road.

The driver who was bleeding profusely had appealed to passing motorist for assistance but to no avail. He had then dragged himself to the Kosgoda Police Station from where he was taken to the Balapitiya Hospital. He was transferred to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital due to his condition being serious.

On the next evening Kosgoda Police received information that a body had been seen floating in the sea near Gurukanda MV. The body was brought ashone and found to be that of the lorry cleaner. Kosgoda OIC S. Umagiliya is conducting inquiries to apprehend the culprits. The lorry belongs to a businessman in Weligama.

Under the accelerated development Programme of the Gampaha District Lanka Industrial Development Board has introduced several self-employment training programmes for the Mirigama area youth. Under the programme a three day workshop was held at Mirigama Adarsa Kanista Vidyalaya in budding plants. Mr. Ariyaratna the instructor shows how plant is budded. Regional Development Officer Santha Ariyaratna also participated. (Mirigama Divaina corr.)

Scout Movement meant to serve mankind

Avissawella: A scout will not become an indisciplined man and an indisciplined man will not become a scout as Plato said that a king will not become a philosopher and a philosopher a king said Sathischandra Edirisinghe at the prize giving ceremony of Avissawella District Association held at the Avissawella Town Hall recently.

He said that the scout movement is one which could eradicate violence and serve mankind. Today, people are not prepared to do their duty. They neglect it. All are aiming at money making ventures while humanity is lost. He said that our people even failed to instal all the public address system properly for the President to speak at the SAARC Summit.

He also said that today there are dangerous pits all over. The elders and politicians have fallen into them. They are trying to drag our youths into them and ruin their future. The youth must be very careful not to fall into them.

K. D. P. Arsakularatna Chairman Seethavakapura U.C. said that the Avissawella Scout Association has done a great service to the area. The golden days of this association dawned during the time of the late S. R. Wijetileka who was the Avissawella D.J. He launched several projects to uplift the living conditions of of the youth.

This movement helps them become well disciplined and active citizens. The UC is prepared to give every assstance to develop this movement.

P. S. Gautamadasa District Commissioner and several others also spoke.

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