January 29, Colombo (LNW): A 34-year-old individual from Rathgama has been apprehended by the police for his alleged involvement in aiding the shooters responsible for the recent murder of five individuals in Beliatta on January 22.

The arrest, conducted by a team of police officers from Hakmana on January 26, took place on the Dhodanduwa Road in Rathgama.

The suspect is accused of receiving two T-56 weapons from the chief suspect involved in the shooting and subsequently transporting the firearms from Akuressa to Karapitiya, according to police reports.

In addition to the arrest, the police have seized the motorcycle utilised for transporting the weapons and two mobile phones belonging to the suspect.

The apprehended individual has been handed over to the Beliatta Police for further investigation, and a detention order has been obtained, allowing the police to detain the suspect for seven days for interrogation.

The mass shooting in Beliatta resulted in the tragic deaths of five individuals, including Saman Perera, the Leader of the ‘Our Peoples Party’ (Ape Jana Bala Pakshaya).

The incident is believed to be linked to a retaliatory motive stemming from a triple murder in Tangalle last year.

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January 29, Colombo (LNW): Six university students have been apprehended in connection with an incident of ragging involving a female student at Sabaragamuwa University.

The individuals in question, identified as fourth-year students from the Faculty of Social Sciences and Language Studies, were arrested following a probe conducted by the Samanala Wewa Police.

The arrests were made based on a complaint received via the 1997 hotline on January 14.

The detained students, aged 23, 24, and 25, are residents of Morawaka, Ruggahawila, Imaduwa, and Kitalawa.

The legal proceedings will follow due process as authorities address the allegations related to the initiation ritual, emphasising the seriousness with which incidents of ragging are treated in educational institutions.

January 29, Colombo (LNW): In the latest developments of the islandwide special operation to crackdown illicit activities including drug dealing code-named ‘Yukthiya’ (Justice) executed by the Police Special Task Force (STF), an additional 836 suspects have been apprehended.

These arrests transpired during multiple raids conducted from yesterday until 12:30 am today (29), according to the Ministry of Public Security.

During the course of the operation, law enforcement recovered a substantial quantity of narcotics, including 142 grams of heroin, 95 grams of crystal methamphetamine (‘ICE’), and 1650 narcotic pills.

Notably, detention orders have been obtained against six of the apprehended suspects, while one individual, grappling with narcotics addiction, has been transferred to a rehabilitation centre.

While ‘Yukthiya’ was initiated in December 2023 with the primary objective of curtailing drug-related activities across Sri Lanka, it is essential to note that this operation has been surrounded by allegations of human rights violations.

Critics and human rights advocates have raised concerns about the potential misuse of power and the need for ensuring due process and the protection of individual rights throughout the course of such operations.

January 29, Colombo (LNW): Thailand’s Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, is scheduled for a two-day official visit to Sri Lanka commencing on February 3, the Department of Government Information said in a statement.

Earlier reports indicated that the Thai Prime Minister would travel to Sri Lanka in February to finalise a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) following the latest round of talks between the two nations.

Chotima Iemsawasdikul, the Director-General of the Thai Commerce Ministry’s Department of Trade Negotiations, informed the media that Sri Lanka hosted the ninth round of FTA negotiations with Thailand on December 18–20.

The FTA negotiations resumed in November after a four-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing restructuring of Sri Lanka’s government agencies.

The Bangkok Post reported that the Commerce Ministry plans to submit the negotiation results to the cabinet for approval before the Prime Minister’s visit to Sri Lanka in February.

This visit comes in response to an invitation extended by Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

January 29, Colombo (LNW): 30 per cent of four-year-old children in Sri Lanka do not attend pre-school education, Education Minister Susil Premajayanth disclosed unravelling a startling statistic.

Emphasising the critical importance of early childhood development, the minister expressed disappointment in the lack of global attention accorded to this issue within the Sri Lankan context.

Despite the acknowledged significance of early childhood development on a global scale, the Minister criticised the insufficient focus on this matter within the country.

He underscored the government’s purported goal of ensuring universal pre-school attendance for all four-year-olds before entering Grade 1.

While the minister’s statement recognises the necessity of bringing all pre-schools under a unified framework, it raises questions about the effectiveness of current policies and initiatives in addressing the evident gap in early childhood education.

The critique points to the need for more robust strategies and increased commitment from the government to prioritise and enhance early childhood development programmes across the nation.

1. Inbound Tour Operators raise concerns with Tourism and Finance Ministries on the sudden imposition of VAT from 0% to 18% on Destination Management Companies; IMF said to be considering the request: many analysts have regularly pointed out that many fiscal and monetary decisions are now taken by the IMF, and not by the Finance Ministry or the Central Bank.
   
2. Public Security Minister Tiran Alles says Police have been tasked with completely eradicating the underworld and narcotic drugs in the country by 30th June’24: asserts the “Yukthiya” operation to do so will not be stopped under any circumstances.
   
3. ITAK leadership change expected to pose challenges for the polity in the South: also expected to raise concerns in the international community: greater bias towards Federalism anticipated.
   
4. SL film director Jagath Manuwarna wins award of Best Director in the Asian Competition Section of the 22nd Dhaka International Film Festival for his feature film “Rahas Kiyana Kandu”: the film premiered at the 2023 International Film Festival in Rotterdam where it won the NETPAC Awards for the best Asian feature film.
   
5. SL Navy seeks the assistance of the Bahrain-based Combined Maritime Forces engaged in counter-terrorism, to obtain the release of SL trawler ‘Lorenzo Putha 4’ with its 6 crew members hijacked by Somali pirates in the Arabian Sea.
   
6. SL Railways “parcel” charges increased with effect from 1st February’24.
   
7. Passenger ferry service between India’s Nagapattinam and SL’s Kankesanthurai to be initiated on 15th February.
   
8. Nutritionist and Lifestyle Medicine Practitioner Dr Raaidah Wahab says the SL rice & curry is one of the most nutritious and balanced meals: warns however the quantities being consumed needs to change.
   
9. Finance State Minister Ranjith Siambalapitiya says the issue of Taxpayer Identification Numbers has not been interrupted or stopped, but necessary steps are being taken to prevent the obstacles and provide necessary facilities to the Inland Revenue Department.
   
10. International Cricket Council lifts ban imposed on SL with immediate effect.

January 29, Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lanka High Commission in Kenya has disclosed ongoing negotiations with the Somali Navy to secure the release of fishermen from the ‘Lorenzo Putha 04,’ who were abducted by Somali pirates.

Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Kenya V. Kananathan highlighted active collaboration with the Somali Navy Chief and efforts to inform the European Union Navy Joint Operations Centre.

The Sri Lankan and Somali authorities are working closely to ensure maritime security and the safe return of the abducted individuals.

Several Sri Lankan Ambassadors have appealed to Somali authorities for intervention, and the Sri Lanka Navy has notified the Combined Maritime Forces in Bahrain, seeking an investigation into the captured fishing vessel.

The ‘Lorenzo Putha 04’ was seized in the Arabian Sea, 1,160 nautical miles from land, with six Chilaw residents on board.

The governments of Sri Lanka and Somalia are committed to swiftly resolving the matter and ensuring the well-being of the abducted Sri Lankans.