The National Water Supply and Drainage Board has announced an eight-hour suspension of the water supply to several areas in Anuradhapura tomorrow (22), from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm, due to essential maintenance work.
The suspension is necessary to carry out maintenance work at the Thuruwila Water Treatment Plant in Anuradhapura.
The water supply will be completely suspended in Wijepura, Paladikulama, Nelumkulama, Kawarakulama, Nachchaduwa, Hidogama, Thuruwila, Nellikulama, Thalawa, Srawasthipura and Deke Kanuwa.
Meanwhile, a low-pressure water supply is expected in Stages II and III of Anuradhapura town.
The National Water Supply and Drainage Board has urged the public to store sufficient water in advance and use it sparingly to minimise inconvenience caused by the suspension.
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Cat Chuuti found at Dubai Airport after week-long search
Published
5 hours ago
on
October 21, 2026
Chuuti, the cat belonging to a Sri Lankan passenger that went missing at Dubai International Airport on October 11, has been found after a week-long search.
The cat was located inside a baggage carousel tunnel by the Dubai Airports team, bringing relief to its owner after days of uncertainty.
According to reports, Chuuti went missing while being prepared for transport to Sri Lanka on a SriLankan Airlines flight from Dubai to Colombo.
The owner, who had completed the required documentation and payments for transporting the pet, reportedly refused to board the flight after being informed that the cat had disappeared from its carrier.
The owner reportedly spent around 28 hours at the airport searching for Chuuti and seeking assistance.
She later continued to follow up on the case while appealing for public help to locate her pet.
In an update shared after the search, the airport team said Chuuti had been found inside the baggage carousel tunnel following days of effort and cooperation among staff.
The discovery brings an end to a week-long search for the missing cat, whose disappearance had drawn public attention in Sri Lanka and among online communities.
A total of 1,454 convicted prisoners remain in prisons across Sri Lanka because they are unable to pay court-imposed fines, Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara told Parliament today (21).
The Minister disclosed the figures in response to a question raised by MP Rohitha Abeygunawardena about prisoners held for failing to pay fines and measures to facilitate their release.
According to the figures presented, 421 prisoners owe fines of Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 15,000, while 220 owe between Rs. 15,000 and Rs. 25,000.
Another 361 prisoners owe between Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 50,000, while 245 owe between Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 100,000. A further 207 prisoners remain in custody over unpaid fines exceeding Rs. 100,000.
The Minister also told Parliament that prisons currently hold 10,611 convicted prisoners and 28,408 remand prisoners.
Responding to a question about assistance for prisoners unable to pay their fines, Nanayakkara said various organisations and institutions were already paying fines on behalf of selected prisoners to facilitate their release.
He added that the Department of Prisons does not prevent government or non-governmental organisations from paying fines on behalf of eligible prisoners, provided the relevant legal requirements are met.
A Myanmar national who brought a consignment of Kush narcotics worth around Rs. 46.46 million into Sri Lanka was arrested at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake this morning (Oct. 21).
The suspect is a 22-year-old labourer.
He arrived at BIA at 1.45 a.m. today on Thai Airways flight TG 307 from Bangkok, Thailand.
He was subsequently stopped and searched by officers of the Airport Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) while leaving the airport and was arrested.
Police said 4 kg and 646 g of Kush had been packed in three packets and concealed among clothing, confectionery and food items inside his luggage.
The suspect and the consignment of drugs are scheduled to be produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court today (Oct. 21).
It is reported that the suspect will subsequently be handed over to the PNB headquarters in Colombo for questioning under detention.
– T.K.G. Kapila, BIA Correspondent
