January 16, Colombo (LNW): The Colombo High Court has levied a hefty fine of Rs. 220 million on three individuals, including notorious drug dealer Gampola Vidanage Samantha Kumara, alias ‘Wele Suda’, and his wife, Gayani Priyadashani, alias ‘Suji’.

This penalty is considered one of the largest ever imposed in Sri Lanka under the Money Laundering Act for crimes associated with illicit drug trafficking.

The case, which has attracted significant attention, saw the court find the first accused, Gayani Priyadashani, guilty of 18 charges out of a total of 55.

Her husband, Wele Suda, was convicted on four counts, whilst the third defendant, Kambare Arachchige Wasundara, faced conviction on two charges related to the laundering of illicit proceeds.

Alongside the monumental fine, the court also issued a series of asset confiscations linked to the accused individuals.

Judge Adithya Patabendige, delivering the ruling, ordered the forfeiture of several high-value assets that had been registered under Gayani Priyadashani’s name.

These assets were identified as proceeds of the couple’s illegal drug trafficking activities. Amongst the confiscated items were luxury vehicles, including a BMW worth Rs. 4.45 million, a Prado Jeep valued at Rs. 6.6 million, and a Discovery Jeep valued at Rs. 4.5 million.

Furthermore, the authorities seized four properties, including a house situated on Bagatelle Road, Rs. 18 million held in a safe locker, 2,601 grams of gold, and furniture valued at Rs. 3.6 million.

In addition to the fines and asset seizures, the three accused were sentenced to eight years of rigorous imprisonment.

This prison term is expected to send a strong message to those involved in organised crime and the illicit drug trade.

The verdict underscores the government’s commitment to cracking down on money laundering and drug trafficking in the country, signalling a decisive shift towards greater accountability for individuals profiting from criminal activities.

Wele Suda, who has long been suspected of operating a vast drug trafficking network, has faced multiple legal challenges in recent years.

January 16, Colombo (LNW): A significant number of cargo ships—approximately 25 to 30—have had to abandon their docking at Sri Lanka’s ports due to ongoing delays in the container clearance process, Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Janith Ruwan Kodithuwakku disclosed.

The vessels, unable to offload their cargo promptly, turned back to their ports of origin. Kodithuwakku made this comment during a site visit to the Rank Container Terminals (RCT) in Orugodawatta yesterday (15).

The issue of clearance delays at Sri Lanka’s ports was addressed in a meeting convened by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Sunday (12). The meeting brought together key stakeholders from customs, the Ports Authority, and other relevant parties to discuss solutions to the problem.

Following the discussions, customs officers committed to working around the clock—operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week—to expedite the clearance process and minimise delays.

The Container Transport Owners’ Association has since reported a noticeable improvement in the clearance speed, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the authorities.

However, despite these positive developments, long queues of container trucks continue to form outside the Orugodawatta customs yard, suggesting that the situation has not been fully resolved.

The congestion is still causing significant disruption to the smooth flow of goods at the port.

Additionally, the Association of Clearing & Forwarding Agents (ACFA) has raised concerns, emphasising that for further improvements, it is crucial for all involved institutions to extend their operational hours to 24/7.

This would ensure that the clearance process remains efficient and uninterrupted, particularly during peak periods when port traffic is heavy.

The ongoing delays have raised alarm among the business community, particularly importers and exporters, who are grappling with the uncertainty caused by the backlog of containers.

The government’s efforts to address the issue are still in motion, with a promise to further streamline operations in the coming weeks, aiming to restore Sri Lanka’s ports to their full operational capacity.

January 16, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has recently signed a significant agreement concerning the Hajj pilgrimage for the year 2025, marking a new chapter in the bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia.

The agreement was finalised in Jeddah, with the Sri Lankan delegation led by the Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Sunil Senevi.

On the Saudi side, Dr. Abdulfattah Bin Sulaiman Mashat, the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, represented the Kingdom.

The agreement underscores the shared commitment of both nations to enhancing the Hajj pilgrimage experience for Sri Lankan Muslims.

Minister Senevi’s visit to Saudi Arabia was arranged at the invitation of Dr. Tawfiq Fawzan Alrabiah, the Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, and is seen as a crucial step towards streamlining Hajj operations in the future.

In discussions preceding the signing, Minister Senevi highlighted the Sri Lankan government’s dedication to improving the Hajj journey for its citizens.

He outlined plans for making the pilgrimage process more efficient and seamless, a sentiment that reflects the broader ambitions of the Sri Lankan administration to enhance its international partnerships and ensure a smooth experience for pilgrims.

As part of his official visit, Minister Senevi is scheduled to meet with Dr. Tawfiq Fawzan Alrabiah and various Hajj service providers to discuss future developments in Hajj arrangements.

The delegation will also make visits to key religious and cultural sites, including Madinah, the holy city of the Prophet, and significant landmarks in Jeddah. Furthermore, Minister Senevi took time to engage with the Sri Lankan expatriate community in Jeddah, strengthening ties between the two nations.

The Sri Lankan delegation accompanying Minister Senevi includes a range of senior officials, such as Deputy Minister of National Integration Muneer Mulaffar, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ameer Ajwad, Director of the Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs M.R.M. Nawas, Acting Consul General Mafusa Lafir, and Hajj Coordinator Dr. M.N.M. Ahsraff.

The primary role of Local Governments in Sri Lanka is to offer essential services that improve the quality of life for citizens, including regulatory functions, public health promotion, and providing infrastructure to enhance the comfort and well-being of communities. However, these bodies often face challenges in service delivery, resulting in public criticism.

A key issue has been the misuse and mismanagement of state resources, highlighted by a government initiative to track down official vehicles misappropriated by former politicians and officials. 

The investigation uncovered that hundreds of vehicles, including 201 motorcycles, were unaccounted for under the Southern Provincial Council. An audit report confirmed the disappearance of 201 vehicles registered to the Southern Provincial Council, while sources indicated that over 2,000 vehicles from provincial councils are missing across the country.

The missing vehicles, many of which are luxury cars and jeeps, raise concerns about the improper use of state property. An investigation is ongoing to determine the whereabouts of these vehicles. 

Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government, Professor Chandana Abeyratne, has directed officials to locate the missing vehicles and has acknowledged past misuse of these resources, particularly by lower-ranking officials with political connections.

Further audit findings show that 31 vehicles from the Central Provincial Council remain unaccounted for, and the physical existence of 201 vehicles from the Southern Provincial Council remains unverified. 

These developments highlight the need for stricter measures to ensure accountability and prevent future mismanagement of public resources.

Local Governments in Sri Lanka also face broader issues, including lack of resources, political interference, outdated regulations, human resource management problems, and inefficiencies in procurement processes. 

The effectiveness of service delivery is influenced by factors such as employee commitment, leadership, the use of technology, citizen participation, and performance evaluations. Policy measures are needed to address these challenges and improve public service delivery across the country.

Former Minister of Agriculture, Mahinda Amaraweera, accused unscrupulous importers of exploiting import permits meant for Nadu rice by smuggling other grains, such as basmati rice, mung beans, cashew nuts, and urad dal. 

He claimed these items were hidden in stock warehouses, where a tax evasion scheme allowed basmati rice (which carries a higher tax) to be imported under the guise of Nadu rice, attracting only a tax of Rs. 65 per kilogram. 

This practice contributed to artificially low market prices for these grains, allowing large-scale traders to repackage and sell imported rice at inflated prices. Amaraweera emphasized that there was no shortage of red raw rice, which was available in mills but intentionally held back to manipulate prices.

 He defended the previous government’s rice distribution efforts to low-income families, asserting it did not contribute to the current crisis. Furthermore, Amaraweera claimed to know the locations where red rice stocks were hidden and was willing to expose them if necessary.

Minister of Trade, Commerce, and Food Security, Wasantha Samarasinghe, countered Amaraweera’s claims, attributing the shortage of red rice to resource mismanagement by past administrations. 

Samarasinghe presented data from 2024, highlighting that 277,315 hectares were cultivated across the Yala and Maha seasons, producing 1.1 million metric tons of paddy. However, due to inefficient distribution policies, market shortages of red rice persisted. 

Samarasinghe noted that while the 2024 Maha season produced 706,000 metric tons of rice from 277,000 hectares and the Yala season yielded 403,097 metric tons, poor planning and distribution led to scarcity in the market. 

He assured the public that the 2025 Maha season would address future shortages, with 161,067 hectares already cultivated and a projected yield of 648,200 metric tons.

Samarasinghe criticized the previous government’s rice distribution initiative before the elections, where 20 kilograms of red rice per family were given indiscriminately, including to those who typically consume white rice. This, according to him, disrupted the market and exacerbated the shortage for those reliant on red rice. 

He highlighted that ongoing surveys of paddy-growing regions, mills, and warehouses were being conducted to identify inefficiencies and improve resource allocation to prevent future crises. He concluded by reassuring the public that proactive measures were being taken to prevent similar issues in the future.

The unfolding rice crisis is seen as a reflection of systemic governance issues, including import irregularities, resource mismanagement, and poorly thought-out policies. 

These challenges have strained Sri Lanka’s rice market, affecting both consumers and farmers. Samarasinghe also addressed the lack of “Kekulu Rice” for the Thaipongal celebration, attributing the shortage to the previous government’s distribution of free rice. However, Matale District MP Rohini Kawirathna dismissed this statement as an unfounded rant.

Sri Lanka has produced 46 million metric tons of rice in recent years, with 29 million metric tons coming from the Kekulu rice variety. 

In the Southern Province, Kekulu rice accounts for 85% of the total rice produced. Despite the large scale of production, the distribution of 54,000 metric tons of rice to 27 million families, including 75% Kekulu rice, did not cause a shortage, as it represents only 14% of the country’s total Kekulu rice production. 

The argument that the rice distribution led to a Kekulu rice shortage was refuted by experts, who viewed it as a fabricated claim to avoid responsibility for addressing future food security needs.

The decision to distribute rice was a collective one, supported by a report from the “Parliamentary Committee for Children” that highlighted the growing issue of child malnutrition, with 36% of children suffering from malnutrition. 

The report called for midday meals for schoolchildren and food for impoverished families, which was acted upon by President Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Parliament. The rice distribution was a necessary response to national needs, driven by the parliamentary committee’s recommendations, Kaviratne said. .