October 04, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lankan authorities have launched a series of high-profile investigations targeting suspicious properties—including a hotel and several private residences—allegedly linked to public officials, under the country’s newly enacted Proceeds of Crime Act.
The move signals a significant shift in the nation’s approach to tackling corruption and illicit wealth.
Director General of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), Ranga Dissanayake, confirmed that at least four active inquiries are currently underway, with more expected to follow.
The Act, which came into force on 1 June 2025, empowers the state to seize assets that individuals cannot lawfully account for, even in the absence of a formal conviction.
“This is not like traditional criminal prosecutions where the burden is on the state to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt,” Dissanayake said. “Here, if the state can demonstrate that an individual is in possession of property not commensurate with their declared income, it is up to the individual to establish its legitimate origin.”
Approved by Parliament earlier this year, the Proceeds of Crime Act is widely regarded as a milestone in Sri Lanka’s efforts to recover stolen public assets. The legislation enables authorities to trace, freeze, and confiscate illicit wealth through non-conviction-based procedures. It also facilitates international cooperation for locating assets stashed abroad, often through sophisticated laundering schemes.
Dissanayake noted that investigations under the new law focus more on the assets themselves than on individuals. “It’s a powerful shift. We can now disrupt the benefits of corruption even when criminal convictions are hard to secure due to lack of witnesses or procedural delays,” he said.
Recent operations have already led to the freezing of properties believed to have been acquired through corruption, with investigators assessing documentation, income declarations, and ownership histories. In some cases, individuals holding public office are reportedly unable to provide credible explanations for the scale of their wealth.
The Director General further urged the public to come forward with information, reminding citizens that failure to report knowledge of suspicious or unexplained assets is, under the new legislation, itself a punishable offence.
Meanwhile, separate police operations targeting organised crime have resulted in the seizure of assets estimated at Rs. 4.5 billion. These include residential and commercial properties, luxury vehicles, land plots, cash holdings, jewellery, and even vessels—confiscated under the provisions of the Money Laundering Act.
Anti-corruption advocates, including Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL), have welcomed the implementation of the Proceeds of Crime Act, calling it essential for dismantling entrenched networks of grand corruption. TISL noted that the law focuses on stripping away the financial incentives for corruption, ensuring that stolen public funds are returned to the state and, ultimately, to the people.
Sri Lanka Launches Landmark Asset Seizures Under New Anti-Corruption Law
New Line of Inquiry Opens in Rugby Player Wasim Thajudeen Case Following Detained Politician’s Revelations
October 04, Colombo (LNW): Authorities have initiated a renewed investigation into the 2012 death of former rugby player Wasim Thajudeen, prompted by recent disclosures made during the interrogation of a detained local politician.
According to Minister Dr Nalinda Jayatissa, fresh leads have emerged as a result of questioning Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) member Sampath Manamperi, who is currently being held under a 90-day detention order.
Manamperi, who was arrested in connection with a major narcotics-related case involving the seizure of two containers filled with chemicals believed to be used in the production of crystal methamphetamine (commonly known as “ice”), is reportedly cooperating with investigators.
Minister Jayatissa confirmed that new investigative pathways have opened in relation to Thajudeen’s death, a case that has remained clouded by controversy for over a decade. Originally ruled an accident, Thajudeen’s death was later reclassified as a homicide after signs of foul play emerged during earlier inquiries.
In response to accusations from the opposition that the renewed probe serves as a political vendetta against dissenting voices, the Minister dismissed such claims as speculative.
“Ongoing investigations are guided by facts and emerging evidence. Those who fear arrest may describe it as a witch-hunt, but only those with something to hide know how deeply they’re involved,” he said.
He noted that statements are still being recorded and that Manamperi has only begun to reveal key information that could shed light on past events.
“It is the duty of law enforcement to follow the trail wherever it leads. No one is being targeted without basis,” the Minister added.
The new developments have reignited public interest in the Thajudeen case, which has long symbolised concerns over impunity and political interference in high-profile criminal investigations.
Ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa Returns Armoured Vehicle Amid Security Concerns
October 04, Colombo (LNW): A bulletproof vehicle previously allocated for the protection of former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been officially returned, following recent changes to legislation governing privileges extended to former heads of state.
According to a statement issued yesterday (03) by Rajapaksa’s media spokesperson, Attorney-at-Law Manoj Gamage, the armoured vehicle was handed back through the relevant leasing or service provider.
In addition, a secondary vehicle used by his close protection officers was also returned to the authorities.
The decision comes in the wake of the Presidents’ Entitlements (Repeal) Act, which has effectively withdrawn several benefits and official provisions previously extended to past executive presidents.
Gamage stated that the Presidential Secretariat had formally notified Rajapaksa on 24 September of the requirement to relinquish both official vehicles and the official residence still under his use.
Expressing concern over the implications of the move, Gamage remarked that the absence of adequate transport and protection infrastructure places the former President’s safety at risk.
He added that arrangements are underway to seek discussions with the Inspector General of Police, the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, and senior defence officials to explore avenues for securing alternative protective measures.
Mannar’s Wind Power Dilemma: Progress or Peril?A New Frontier in Sri Lanka’s Energy Mix
By: Roger Srivasan
october 04, Colombo (LNW):
Sri Lanka’s ambitious renewable energy targets have placed Mannar Island at the heart of
a historic transformation. The Thambapavani Wind Farm, with its first 30 turbines already
operational, has been hailed as a flagship project — a step towards reducing fossil fuel
dependence, strengthening energy security, and cutting carbon emissions. Yet, beneath
this narrative of clean progress, a storm of local opposition is gathering force.
Demonstrations in Mannar reflect a profound unease: that the very project meant to
secure a greener future may be destabilising the fragile landscape and imperilling local
lives.
The Public Outcry: Floods, Wells, and Wellsprings of Distrust
Residents insist that since Phase I began, flooding has worsened dramatically. Fields lie
waterlogged for weeks, crops rot, pit latrines overflow, and drinking wells are polluted.
They argue that the turbine foundations, access roads, and cable trenches have disrupted
natural drainage, blocking water flow during the northeast monsoon. The community’s
fears are not mere speculation. In a flat, flood-prone island like Mannar, even minor
obstructions to watercourses can transform seasonal inconveniences into prolonged
disasters. Coupled with weak consultation and poor transparency, the sense of betrayal is
palpable.
Beyond Flooding: Ecology and Livelihoods at Stake
Mannar is more than a windy plain. It is a globally significant bird migration hotspot, a
mosaic of wetlands and fisheries that sustain both biodiversity and livelihoods.
Conservationists warn that turbine strings and associated roads could fragment habitats,
endanger migratory species, and degrade wetlands that naturally buffer floods. For
farmers and fishers, the stakes are immediate: disrupted land, declining yields, and altered
access to coastal resources. The promise of renewable energy feels distant when daily
survival is at risk.
The National Imperative: Energy Security and Climate Goals
Yet the counterargument is powerful. Sri Lanka imports the bulk of its fossil fuels, leaving
the economy exposed to volatile global markets. Expanding wind power on Mannar could
displace costly oil and coal, stabilise long-term energy prices, and help meet urgent
climate commitments. Wind energy is clean, renewable, and increasingly cost-effective. Its
carbon savings benefit not just Mannar but the entire nation — a collective good that
cannot be ignored.
Where the Balance Lies
The dilemma, then, is stark: local harm versus national gain. But it need not be an
either–or equation. Hydrological safeguards — frequent culverts, open channels, and
seasonal construction windows — can mitigate flooding risks. Wetland buffers and
ecological corridors can preserve biodiversity and migration pathways. Transparent
monitoring and independent audits can rebuild trust. Benefit sharing — jobs, local
electrification, and improved drainage — can ensure that Mannar’s people are not asked
to sacrifice for free. Without these safeguards, expansion would be reckless. With them,
Mannar can indeed host wind power responsibly.
The Best Interest of Sri Lanka
In the final analysis, the people of Mannar are right to raise their voices. Their fears are
grounded in real vulnerabilities and lived experience. At the same time, Sri Lanka cannot
afford to abandon its renewable energy vision.
The best interest of the nation — and Mannar — lies in conditional progress: expand only after independent verification, genuine
consultation, and visible safeguards are in place. A “fix first, then phase” approach offers a
path where energy security and community resilience move forward together.
Conclusion
Mannar’s winds are a gift of nature, capable of powering the nation for generations. But if
ignored, the same winds may also fan the flames of resentment and mistrust. The true
measure of progress is not how many turbines stand tall, but how well a nation ensures
that its people and environment stand tall alongside them.
Sri Lanka’s ambitious renewable energy targets have placed Mannar Island at the heart of
a historic transformation. The Thambapavani Wind Farm, with its first 30 turbines already
operational, has been hailed as a flagship project — a step towards reducing fossil fuel
dependence, strengthening energy security, and cutting carbon emissions. Yet, beneath
this narrative of clean progress, a storm of local opposition is gathering force.
Demonstrations in Mannar reflect a profound unease: that the very project meant to
secure a greener future may be destabilising the fragile landscape and imperilling local
lives.
The Public Outcry: Floods, Wells, and Wellsprings of Distrust
Residents insist that since Phase I began, flooding has worsened dramatically. Fields lie
waterlogged for weeks, crops rot, pit latrines overflow, and drinking wells are polluted.
They argue that the turbine foundations, access roads, and cable trenches have disrupted
natural drainage, blocking water flow during the northeast monsoon. The community’s
fears are not mere speculation. In a flat, flood-prone island like Mannar, even minor
obstructions to watercourses can transform seasonal inconveniences into prolonged
disasters. Coupled with weak consultation and poor transparency, the sense of betrayal is
palpable.
Beyond Flooding: Ecology and Livelihoods at Stake
Mannar is more than a windy plain. It is a globally significant bird migration hotspot, a
mosaic of wetlands and fisheries that sustain both biodiversity and livelihoods.
Conservationists warn that turbine strings and associated roads could fragment habitats,
endanger migratory species, and degrade wetlands that naturally buffer floods. For
farmers and fishers, the stakes are immediate: disrupted land, declining yields, and altered
access to coastal resources. The promise of renewable energy feels distant when daily
survival is at risk.
The National Imperative: Energy Security and Climate Goals
Yet the counterargument is powerful. Sri Lanka imports the bulk of its fossil fuels, leaving
the economy exposed to volatile global markets. Expanding wind power on Mannar could
displace costly oil and coal, stabilise long-term energy prices, and help meet urgent
climate commitments. Wind energy is clean, renewable, and increasingly cost-effective. Its
carbon savings benefit not just Mannar but the entire nation — a collective good that
cannot be ignored.
Where the Balance Lies
The dilemma, then, is stark: local harm versus national gain. But it need not be an
either–or equation. Hydrological safeguards — frequent culverts, open channels, and
seasonal construction windows — can mitigate flooding risks. Wetland buffers and
ecological corridors can preserve biodiversity and migration pathways. Transparent
monitoring and independent audits can rebuild trust. Benefit sharing — jobs, local
electrification, and improved drainage — can ensure that Mannar’s people are not asked
to sacrifice for free. Without these safeguards, expansion would be reckless. With them,
Mannar can indeed host wind power responsibly.
The Best Interest of Sri Lanka
In the final analysis, the people of Mannar are right to raise their voices. Their fears are
grounded in real vulnerabilities and lived experience. At the same time, Sri Lanka cannot
afford to abandon its renewable energy vision.
The best interest of the nation — and Mannar — lies in conditional progress: expand only after independent verification, genuine
consultation, and visible safeguards are in place. A “fix first, then phase” approach offers a
path where energy security and community resilience move forward together.
Conclusion
Mannar’s winds are a gift of nature, capable of powering the nation for generations. But if
ignored, the same winds may also fan the flames of resentment and mistrust. The true
measure of progress is not how many turbines stand tall, but how well a nation ensures
that its people and environment stand tall alongside them.
Banks Must Stop Exploiting Credit Card Users: CBSL Cannot Sit Idle
By Adolf
Sri Lankan credit card users are being taken for a ride. While banks and card companies boast about convenience, security, and global acceptance, the reality is starkly different: exorbitant fees, opaque charges, and outright exploitation. Overseas transactions are where the abuse is most glaring, and among the worst offenders is American Express (Amex), which consistently imposes punishing markups and foreign transaction fees far beyond what other cards charge.
Credit card holders pay hidden costs at every step. Foreign exchange conversion fees, service charges, and even stamp duties pile on top of already high interest rates. These fees are often poorly explained—or not disclosed at all—until the user sees the shockingly inflated statement. A simple purchase abroad can end up costing hundreds or even thousands of rupees more than anticipated. And yet, banks continue to profit while consumers bear the brunt.
Adding insult to injury, many local merchants continue to pass on their card processing costs to consumers through extra surcharges of 2.5%–3%, despite clear directives from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) prohibiting this practice. These surcharges violate merchant agreements and exploit customers who may not even realize they are being overcharged. CBSL has warned against this, yet enforcement remains weak, and violations persist unchecked.
CBSL has introduced regulations on financial consumer protection, emphasizing transparency and fair treatment. But statements alone do not protect consumers. Banks continue to impose hefty international fees, and card issuers like Amex, which dominate the high-end credit card segment, profit massively from overseas transactions while offering little real value in return. It is a system rigged against ordinary Sri Lankans.
What is required is decisive, forceful action. CBSL must cap foreign transaction fees, mandate complete transparency on all charges, and penalize banks and merchants who flout the rules. Consumers must be empowered to challenge exploitative practices without fear or bureaucratic delay. Anything less leaves the door open for continued abuse.
Credit cards are meant to be a tool for convenience, mobility, and access to global commerce. Instead, they have become a vehicle for banks and card companies to extract hidden revenue from unsuspecting customers. The time for gentle warnings and regulations on paper is over. CBSL must step up and protect Sri Lankan consumers from being exploited by powerful financial institutions, including the likes of Amex. The bottom line is simple: banks cannot be allowed to treat cardholders as cash cows while regulators remain passive. The financial system’s credibility and public trust are at stake. CBSL must act now, decisively and visibly, or risk being complicit in this exploitation. Ordinary Sri Lankans deserve fair treatment, transparency, and protection—not an endless drain on their wallets every time they swipe their cards abroad
Police Launch New Hotlines for Public to Report Drug-Related Activity
October 04, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lankan police have introduced a set of new telephone hotlines aimed at strengthening the national crackdown on illegal narcotics.
Announced yesterday (03), the initiative allows members of the public to directly share information on drug-related activity with senior law enforcement officials across the island.
The public can now report incidents involving substances such as heroin, crystal methamphetamine (commonly known as ‘ice’), cocaine, cannabis, and other illicit drugs via specially designated contact numbers.
These lines will connect callers directly to the offices of Senior Deputy Inspectors General (SDIGs) overseeing regional police ranges, as well as Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) responsible for divisional command.
Authorities have urged citizens to use the hotlines responsibly and in good faith, noting that community cooperation is vital to tackling the spread of narcotics.
How India Let Sri Lanka Steal Its Tea Crown
By Kanika Datta
India, the land that gave the world Darjeeling and Assam tea, risks losing its place at the global tea table, not because of its leaves, but because of its lost opportunities, notes Kanika Datta.
If you are a fan of tea, the aromatic brew from Darjeeling or Assam taken black without milk and sugar rather than the milky, syrupy chai, then tea is what you will miss most in Sri Lanka, an unexpected discovery during a recent visit.
Yet this little green island outperforms India’s vast and hoary tea industry in the world markets.
Of course, the comparison is unfair, since the flavourful variety grown in the uplands of West Bengal and along the Brahmaputra has a natural advantage that Ceylon Tea, for all its energetic branding, can’t quite match.
Note also that Sri Lanka produces a third of India’s annual production, the world’s second-largest producer (naturally, China is the largest producer).
Yet two Sri Lankan companies figure among the world’s top-10 exporter suppliers. India has just one.
That is Tetley, a British brand that the Tata group presciently acquired in 2000; it remains the group’s most consistently successful overseas acquisition.
When it comes to tea brands, only Tetley keeps the Indian flag flying, though the Indian tea industry is over 170 years old — and Tetley was an established label even before the Tata acquisition. But Sri Lanka’s indigenously developed Dilmah, a 40-year-old brand in a 160-year-old industry, figures high on the list.
The failure to develop a powerful Indian tea brand in global markets reflects a generic weakness of Indian industry in general.
With exceptions such as Mahindra and Amul, Indian brands are conspicuously absent in global markets.
This deficiency, in turn, is the product of decades of protectionism that allowed monopolists to grow peacefully in the domestic market without facing the rigours of global competition.
Tea, one of India’s oldest industries, offers an appropriate reflection of these structural problems — and a cautionary tale for an economic policymaking establishment with a penchant for sheltering India behind high tariff walls.
For decades, with imports banned, domestic tea prices remained high, delivering splendid profits for tea companies and lavish lifestyles for its executives.
Thanks to India’s close relationship with the Soviet Union, exports, too, were mostly assured, accounting for almost 60 per cent of overseas sales (albeit on a rupee-rouble basis).
This market crumbled after 1991, forcing Indian producers to acquire the habits of competition in seeking foreign markets.
By then, Ceylon and Kenya had almost effortlessly managed to fill the breach, competing successfully on both quality and price.
After some trauma, the industry adjusted, with the larger companies spinning off plantation and manufacturing activities and focusing on value addition and marketing, belatedly emulating Sri Lanka in turning palatial planters’ bungalows into ‘immersive’ tourism opportunities and launching premium tea brands for upscale domestic consumers.
Though India still imposes a 100 per cent Customs duty on imported tea (plus a 10 per cent social welfare surcharge), imports are permitted — and growing — under an advance authorisation scheme that is alarming the industry.
Either way, the old days of easy profits are long gone, and the industry has stopped being a magnet for young men (and it was only men) from ‘acceptable’ (meaning Westernised) backgrounds.
In 2024, there was a frisson of excitement as India surpassed Sri Lanka as the world’s second-largest tea exporter. But when it came to value, India retained its customary fourth position behind China, Sri Lanka and Kenya, indicating the limitations of its pricing power in world markets.
This shortcoming is also rooted in past protectionism. The bulk of India’s tea is of the crush-tear-curl (CTC) variety, an aggressive manufacturing technique that was designed to increase cuppage; it yields a strong liquor that is ideal for the chai that most of India drinks.
Sri Lanka, which exports nearly all of its tea, produces mainly leaf tea, which is more coveted in global markets, where black tea is drunk.
Now, as Indian tea, along with other products, faces a 50 per cent tariff in the United States, the industry will find itself facing a new challenge.
The US accounts for about 11 per cent of India’s global tea market and it is one of the few countries where India leads Sri Lanka by a fairly wide margin.
India, in fact, is the second-largest tea supplier to the US where its CTC varieties are useful for the ‘chai-tea’ and the vile flavoured variants that Americans favour (is mango tea even a thing?).
In the tariff game that the Trump administration is playing with the rest of the world, India runs the danger of being priced out by Japan, with a 15 per cent reciprocal tariff, and Sri Lanka at 30 per cent.
With climate change impacting productivity, labour shortages impinging on wages and Nepal encroaching on India’s premium varieties with ersatz Darjeeling tea, the serial closures of tea estates by storied names since 2000 are pointing to accelerating decline.
Indians with a preference for tea rather than chai may find themselves falling back on Sri Lankan or Nepalese alternatives soon.
Source: Reddif
US Navy Destroyer USS Fitzgerald Arrives in Colombo for Replenishment Stop
October 04, Colombo (LNW): The United States Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) arrived at the Port of Colombo on the morning of October 03 for a scheduled replenishment visit.
The Sri Lanka Navy extended a formal welcome to the visiting vessel, honouring longstanding naval traditions as part of the port call. The arrival forms part of routine operational logistics, allowing the ship to restock supplies and prepare for onward deployment.
Measuring 154 metres in length, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer is currently under the command of Commander Paul Richardson. According to the Sri Lanka Navy, the USS Fitzgerald will resume its journey once replenishment procedures are complete.
Colombo Stock Exchange Hits Historic High as ASPI Surpasses 22,000 Points
October 04, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s stock market reached a major milestone as the All Share Price Index (ASPI) of the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) crossed the 22,000-point threshold for the first time in its history.
As of midday on October 03, the benchmark index stood at 22,057.58 points, marking an increase of 108.39 points from the previous session.
The record-breaking performance reflects growing investor confidence and renewed market momentum.
The latest surge comes amid a backdrop of improved macroeconomic indicators, easing inflationary pressure, and anticipation of policy stability—factors that have encouraged both domestic and foreign participation in equity markets.
Global Energy Giants Eye Strategic Stake in Sri Lanka’s Oil Refinery Expansion
October 04, Colombo (LNW): A wave of international interest has emerged around Sri Lanka’s plans to upgrade and expand its only oil refinery, with twenty foreign firms—from countries including China, the United States, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates—submitting proposals to participate in the project.
The Expressions of Interest (EOIs), called by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO), were formally closed last Friday.
Speaking to Daily Mirror, CEYPETCO Chairman D.A. Rajakaruna, the response signals renewed confidence in Sri Lanka’s energy sector, which has long struggled to attract large-scale investment due to a range of historical challenges.
Rajakaruna confirmed that the proposals are now being prepared for evaluation, with the emphasis on securing long-term strategic partnerships rather than short-term capital inflows.
The government is seeking proposals that offer more than financial backing—prioritising investment models that enhance operational efficiency, open up new markets, and create lasting value for the country.
The Sapugaskanda oil refinery, located just outside Colombo, has served as a cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s energy infrastructure since the 1960s. Despite its strategic importance, plans to modernise and expand the facility have repeatedly stalled over the past decade due to internal conflict, the COVID-19 pandemic, economic instability, and political turbulence.
Feasibility assessments were previously undertaken in both 2010 and 2022, but neither effort progressed to implementation.
However, officials now argue that conditions are finally conducive to moving forward. With growing demand for refined petroleum products in the South Asian region and relative political stability returning to the island, the CEYPETCO sees this moment as a crucial window for transformation.
The proposed expansion would double the refinery’s current capacity—from 50,000 barrels per day to 100,000—allowing Sri Lanka not only to better meet domestic demand but also to explore regional supply opportunities in sectors such as aviation fuel, marine bunkering, lubricants, and petrochemicals.
This would significantly reduce dependency on costly imports while positioning the island as a competitive player in regional energy trade.
The government intends to retain a substantial ownership share in any partnership arrangement, ensuring that national interests remain safeguarded. However, it is also open to creative joint venture models that offer investors viable returns and strategic advantages, particularly in technology, logistics, and market access.
The CEYPETCO is now preparing for the next stage of the process, which will involve a detailed assessment of the submitted proposals and the selection of candidates for negotiation. The evaluation is expected to prioritise partners who demonstrate a commitment to sustainability, innovation, and capacity-building within Sri Lanka’s energy sector.
If successful, the project could become a flagship initiative for the country’s broader industrial renewal, sending a strong signal to international investors that Sri Lanka is ready to re-engage with the global market on ambitious, forward-looking terms.