A Sri Lankan national returning from India has been arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake for possession of a significant amount of narcotic pills. The arrest was made on Tuesday (April 18) following a tip-off received by the Police Narcotic Bureau’s sub-unit stationed at the airport.

According to the police, the suspect had 60,460 narcotic pills weighing up to 34kg, which had been hidden inside hair dye packets. The 40-year-old, a resident of Rajawella area in Digana, was taken into custody after the police found the contraband during a search of his luggage at the airport’s arrival terminal.

The suspect was produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, and the police have obtained a seven-day detention order to interrogate him further. The Police Narcotics Bureau is conducting an investigation into the incident.

This latest arrest highlights the continuing battle against drug trafficking in Sri Lanka. Authorities are working to curb the flow of narcotics into the country, and this latest incident is a testament to their efforts.

Separate operations conducted by the Navy in the sea areas of Mamunai and Chundikulam, Jaffna on 16th and 17th April 2023 led to the apprehension of 12 persons engaged in illegal night diving and light-coarse fishing. During the operations, the Navy also seized 03 dinghies and unauthorized fishing gear used for these illegal acts.

The Navy conducts regular operations in the coastal and sea areas of the island in order to suppress illegal fishing activities performed by people with scant regard towards responsible fishing practices. As an extension of these efforts, the Naval Detachment Mamunai belonging to the Veththalakerni Naval Deployment in the Northern Naval Command deployed naval craft and conducted a special operation off Mamunai on 16th April. The operation led to the apprehension of 04 persons engaged in illegal diving activities to catch fish and seizure of 01 dinghy and unauthorized fishing gear.

Meanwhile, a group of Navy Marines attached to Naval Detachment Chundikulam of the Naval Deployment Veththalakerni also carried out a special operation off Chundikulam on 17th April. During the operation, naval personnel nabbed 08 persons along with 02 dinghies and fishing gear for practising light-coarse fishing in the sea area .

The persons apprehended in these operations are residents of Mannar, Thalayadi, Puulayarkoilady, Pudukuduirippu and Anandapuram, who are from 28 to 59 years of age. The suspects along with their fishing equipment and dinghies were handed over to the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Jaffna for onward legal action.

 SLNavy

A discussion pertaining to the future affairs of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Religious Affairs and Co-Existence was held at the Committee meeting held under the Chairmanship of Hon. Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha recently.

Identifying the role, scope, future program and problems of the institutions under the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs was taken into discussion at the Committee meeting held.

The Secretary to the Ministry Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Mr.Somaratne Vidanapathirana and other officials expressed views at the meeting held. It was also disclosed that arrangements have been made to hold this year's National Vesak festival in Puttalam district as a joint program with the support of all religions.

Attention was paid to the upcoming programs and matters concerning pertaining to the Department of Buddhist Affairs, Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs, Department of Hindu Religious and Cultural Affairs, and Department of Christian Religious Affairs. There was also a discussion about the strengthening of the law necessary for the purpose of solving the problems related to all religions, preventing the existing cultural decline.

Hon. Upul Mahendra Rajapaksha, Chair of the Committee, said that the Sectoral Oversight Committee supports the activities necessary to solve the problems and strengthen the ministerial program and if necessary, the minister is also expected to be involved in the committee. Accordingly, it was decided to prepare a basic program on the issues that the committee is expected to focus on and to work in the future.

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): The Cabinet has granted its approval for the proposed road map and timeline of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) restructuring process, announced Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara.

The Cabinet approval was granted yesterday (17) and the final draft of the new electricity act will be presented to Parliament for approval by the end of May, the Minister said in a Social Media remark.

He added that approval was also granted to establish a reform secretariat, obtain assistance of development agencies such Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Bank (WB), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the process, to conduct a financial and human resources audit and to complete the transition process by October 2023.

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): The Centre for Environmental and Nature Studies (CENS) has raised strong concerns over the government’s decision to sell Toque macaques (Macaca sinica) monkeys to China, in a letter addressed to Gopal Baglay, the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, stating that the Sri Lankan government’s vaguely described justification over the action would be problematic.

“Macaca sinica is endemic only to the island of Sri Lanka, however they have a relationship with Hanuman langurs (Semnopithecus entellus) and purple-faced langurs (Trachypithecus vetulus), which are old-world monkeys native to the Indian subcontinent. Indians and Tamil Sri Lankans believe especially their ancient ancestors as gods,” CENS pointed out in its letter to the Indian High Commissioner.

Kovils and temples dedicated to Lord Hanuman bear witness to this country, the letter read, adding that the cultural aspects embodied with the existence of these creatures are valued by both Sri Lanka and India.

These species have also been listed as endangered according to the IUCN Red List because of deforestation, hunting, the pet trade and usage in the civil war of Sri Lanka, it added.

Denouncing the Sri Lankan government’s will to underestimate these roots, the CENS urges Mr. Baglay’s country, which considers monkeys are sacred, to intervene and protect these animals and not let “money sell God’s symbol and culture” to China.

By: Isuru Parakrama

Colombo (LNW): The Sri Lanka Rupee today (18) indicates a slight depreciation against the US Dollar at Sri Lankan commercial banks in comparison to yesterday (17).

Accordingly, the buy and sell rates of the US Dollar at Peoples Bank have surged from Rs. 309.66 to Rs. 310.62 and from Rs. 328.25 to Rs. 329.27 respectively.

Meanwhile, the rates remain unchanged at Commercial Bank, indicating the buy rate Rs. 310.05 and the sell rate, Rs. 327.50.

At Sampath Bank, the rates indicates a subtle depreciation, with buy rate surged from Rs. 310 to Rs. 313 and sell rate, from Rs. 325 to Rs. 328 respectively.