Notorious Gang Leader Killed in Colombo Courthouse Shooting

A 21-year-old woman from the UK, Charlotte May Lee, faces up to 25 years in prison in Sri Lanka after being arrested for allegedly smuggling over 100 pounds of a synthetic drug known as "kush." The seizure occurred at Bandaranaike Airport in Colombo, where authorities discovered the dangerous narcotic, which contains ground-up human bones as one of its primary ingredients, according to the BBC. Lee reportedly claims that the drugs were planted in her luggage without her knowledge. The estimated street value of the seized drug is approximately $3.3 million. Lee, who was working in Thailand before her trip, expressed her shock at being stopped by customs officials, indicating she had not been aware of the drug’s presence in her bags. A senior officer from the Sri Lanka Customs Narcotics Control Unit confirmed that this was the largest kush seizure in the airport’s history. The drug, which first emerged in West Africa, has severely impacted communities, prompting Sierra Leone's president to declare a state of emergency due to increasing fatalities among users.

A massive power outage swept across Sri Lanka on Sunday after a monkey reportedly contacted a grid transformer at a power station south of Colombo. Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody confirmed that the animal caused an imbalance in the power system, leaving many of the island nation's 22 million residents without electricity during a heatwave exceeding 30°C (86°F). Engineers prioritized restoring power to critical facilities, including hospitals and water purification plants. While some areas regained power within hours, many households remained in the dark until late Sunday night. The incident inspired humor on social media, with comments likening the situation to a comic scenario, such as “One monkey = total chaos.” Beyond the jokes, the outage highlighted deeper issues within Sri Lanka's energy infrastructure, which experts have warned is outdated and susceptible to disruptions. A senior engineer stated that frequent island-wide power outages could be expected with disturbances in the system. The Ceylon Electricity Board issued an apology but did not elaborate on how a single incident could disrupt power nationwide. Concerns are growing over the increasing monkey population, estimated between 2 and 3 million, as they encroach on human settlements.

A nationwide power outage in Sri Lanka was triggered by a monkey that came into contact with a transformer at a power station south of Colombo. The blackout, which started around midday on Sunday, left citizens sweltering in temperatures exceeding 30°C, according to Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody. Engineers worked diligently to restore power, prioritizing critical services like hospitals and water purification plants. While some regions regained electricity within hours, many households remained without power well into the night. Sri Lankans took to social media to comment humorously on the incident, with one user quipping, “One monkey = total chaos,” indicating broader concerns about the fragility of the national electricity grid. Experts have pointed out that the power infrastructure in Sri Lanka is outdated and vulnerable, leading to potential disruptions from even minor incidents. An unnamed senior engineer warned of frequent outages if the system remains unaddressed, reflecting on the country's ongoing struggles with energy security. The Ceylon Electricity Board issued an apology for the disruption but did not clarify the extensive impact of a single incident. Meanwhile, the fate of the mischievous monkey remains unknown.