By: Isuru Parakrama

October 17, Colombo (LNW): In response to a surge in online scams perpetrated by foreign nationals, predominantly Chinese, Sri Lanka’s police are seeking legal guidance from relevant authorities, including the Attorney General’s Department, to modernise laws and regulations.

Police Spokesman, DIG Nihal Thalduwa, emphasised that current laws need to evolve to keep pace with increasingly sophisticated criminal tactics. He stated, “The rules concerning online scams should be updated to reflect how crimes are changing.”

At present, the police are operating under the Computer Crimes Act, but Thalduwa noted that its provisions must be enhanced to tackle the latest technological advancements, enabling more effective prevention of such crimes.

Over the past week, more than 300 foreign nationals have been arrested across various regions of Sri Lanka for their involvement in large-scale online scams.

As part of these operations, authorities have confiscated nearly 500 mobile phones and 300 computers.

The latest incident occurred on Tuesday night (15), when at least ten foreign nationals were arrested at a hotel in Chilaw.

The group, which included two women, was apprehended in connection with online financial fraud, and officers from the Puttalam Division Crimes Investigation Bureau seized 282 mobile phones, 20 computers, and three routers during the raid.

Amongst those arrestees were four Malaysian nationals, four Ethiopians, a Kenyan woman, and a Chinese national. The suspects had been staying at a hotel on Iranavila Road in Chilaw, which was reportedly operating as a “scam camp.”

According to the police, these camps are often established in secluded areas, where spacious and comfortable accommodations are provided to the suspects to carry out fraudulent activities in isolation.

DIG Thalduwa highlighted that properties used as scam camps are a growing issue in Sri Lanka, reminiscent of situations where Sri Lankans were trapped in scam networks in Myanmar.

He warned that individuals providing such accommodations could face criminal charges, as these properties play a key role in facilitating online fraud.

Thalduwa also remarked on the challenges facing scam victims, noting that it is nearly impossible for them to recover lost money once the crime has been committed.

As internet-related crimes continue to rise, the police and relevant bodies are pushing for more robust measures to address the new wave of cybercriminal activity, ensuring the country’s laws are in step with the evolving nature of online crime.

By: Isuru Parakrama

October 17, Colombo (LNW): Central Province Governor, Professor S.B.S. Abayakoon, has authorised the renaming of the ‘Keheliya Rambukwella Primary School’ in the Kundasale Division of Kandy’s Wattegama Education Zone.

This decision comes in response to widespread public demand for the removal of corrupt politicians’ names from educational institutions in the region.

The school will now be known as Kundasale Royal Primary School, following the recommendation of the Structural Committee of the Provincial Education Department.

The move is seen as part of a broader effort to restore public trust in the education sector by distancing it from controversial political figures.

This renaming follows the call for reforms led by the Ceylon Teachers’ Union, which highlighted a 1996 circular from the Ministry of Education prohibiting schools from being named after living individuals.

Joseph Stalin, the union’s General Secretary, pointed out that despite former minister Keheliya Rambukwella’s involvement in the immunoglobulin procurement scandal, his name remained attached to the school.

The recent decision addresses these concerns.

In a related development, Governor Abayakoon has also authorised the renaming of several schools in the Minipe Education Zone, Teldeniya.

This initiative reflects growing awareness of the importance of upholding integrity within the education sector, ensuring that schools remain neutral institutions free from controversial affiliations.

The immunoglobulin scandal, which implicated Rambukwella during his tenure in government, drew widespread criticism. Public pressure has since mounted to dissociate educational institutions from such figures, particularly as schools bear a critical role in shaping future generations.

By: Isuru Parakrama

October 17, Colombo (LNW): Following a prolonged legal battle, the Galle High Court has delivered a death sentence in a homicide case dating back over two decades.

The accused, a 50-year-old resident of Imaduwa, was convicted for the deliberate killing of a man by electrocution on 6 February 2000, using an unauthorised electricity connection in the Koratuhenagoda area.

The court found that the defendant had intentionally set up the illegal connection, leading to the death of the victim, an action which was part of a premeditated plan.

The incident, which occurred within the jurisdiction of the Imaduwa police division, has been the subject of a lengthy judicial process, marked by extensive investigation and deliberation over the years.

The verdict was delivered on 16 October, with the High Court handing down the death penalty, bringing closure to a case that had remained unresolved for nearly 24 years.

This decision reflects the seriousness with which the court viewed the crime, particularly in light of the unlawful use of electricity as a method of murder.

The death penalty, although still legally permitted, is a subject of ongoing debate in Sri Lanka, with human rights advocates calling for its abolition.

Nevertheless, the court’s ruling reaffirms that severe punishment remains an option for cases deemed particularly heinous.

By: Isuru Parakrama

October 17, Colombo (LNW): President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has stressed the importance of boosting the efficiency of road development projects as a key strategy for advancing rural economic growth.

Speaking at a progress review meeting for the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation, held at the Presidential Secretariat, the President outlined the need to streamline procurement processes to ensure wider community benefits.

Highlighting the risks of contract concentration in the hands of a few, the President advocated for a more inclusive approach, where local contractors and communities could play a greater role.

By doing so, he emphasised, the benefits of development projects would be more equitably distributed, helping to uplift rural areas and ensuring a stronger connection between infrastructure development and local economic prosperity.

A significant part of the meeting focused on the progress of ongoing projects, particularly the construction of the Kadawata-Mirigama segment of the Central Expressway.

The President underscored the importance of completing such high-impact projects, noting that strategic planning in the development of roads, ports, and airports is vital to accelerating national economic growth.

He highlighted how modernising these critical infrastructures could serve as a catalyst for broader economic improvements, benefiting industries and communities alike.

President Dissanayake also addressed concerns regarding environmental and community impacts, urging officials to adopt measures that mitigate any negative consequences of the road development projects.

He called for a balanced approach, ensuring that environmental sustainability, financial prudence, and the well-being of local communities are prioritised in the execution of these initiatives.

Timely and efficient project implementation, he noted, is crucial to avoiding delays and cost overruns, which could hinder the country’s development targets.

Additionally, the President emphasised the need to enhance safety protocols in railway development projects, particularly concerning the welfare of railway employees and the travelling public.

He urged ministry officials to ensure that safety measures remain a top priority in all aspects of infrastructure development.

Among those present at the meeting were Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the President, and K.D.S. Ruwanchandra, Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation, along with senior officials from the ministry’s affiliated institutions.

Their discussions also touched on future strategies for enhancing transport infrastructure, in line with the government’s broader objectives of economic transformation and sustainable growth.

1. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stresses the importance of enhancing road development efficiency to achieve rural economic growth, urging streamlined procurement to benefit local communities: emphasises the need for careful planning of highways, ports, and airports for economic progress: also calls for prioritising environmental, financial, and safety considerations in ongoing projects.
   
2. Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leadership refuses to accept the resignation of Samagi Vanitha Balawegaya National Organiser Hirunika Premachandra, despite her focus on her Colombo election campaign: SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara confirms Premachandra will remain in her role, whilst other party members can assist during the campaign: Premachandra insists she cannot oversee national activities while running in Colombo’s intense competition.
   
3. Former MP and Leader of Pivithuru Hela Urumaya Udaya Gammanpila accuses President Anura Kumara Dissanayake of committing ‘a greater crime than him being ever given damnation for’ for concealing a certain report pertaining to the Easter Sunday terror attacks, which he had previously claimed to have possessed, in retaliation to the ultimatum given to Gammanpila by Cabinet Spokesman Vijitha Herath to hand it over to the government within three days: insists he will not make the report public with respect to the sensitivity of its content affecting national security, until the President himself unveils it: Previously, the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya Leader had claimed that he received the report which to date has not been made public record by any of the regimes in power: Herath accused him of ‘committing a crime’ for not revealing it.
   
4. Police Spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa reveals scam farms recently busted in Sri Lanka resemble Myanmar’s cyber camps where Sri Lankans are stranded: These “scamming camps” operate covertly, with workers restricted from leaving but paid salaries: Locations are secured under false company pretenses, and equipment is brought in for global online scams: Over 150 foreign nationals, including Chinese, have been arrested.
   
5. The Police is seeking public assistance to identify two deceased individuals involved in separate incidents in Homagama and Kegalle: The first body, found in Homagama on 1 October, remains unidentified, and a post-mortem is underway: The second case involves a pedestrian killed in a road accident on 4 October in Molagoda, Kegalle: Authorities urge anyone with information to contact local police stations.
   
6. The government re-establishes the food policy committee to ensure essential items, including food, are supplied without scarcity and to control the rising cost of living: This decision, approved by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, involves multiple ministries, aiming for a coordinated approach to tackle food security and price stability challenges across the country.
   
7. Amidst escalating conflict in the Middle East, particularly Lebanon, Sri Lanka is taking measures to ensure the safety of its nationals in the region: Sri Lankan Missions are providing regular instructions for protection, whilst families in Sri Lanka can contact the Consular Affairs Division for updates on their relatives: Sri Lankans in the region are urged to follow safety guidelines closely.
   
8. The new government abandons plans to sell SriLankan Airlines but will restructure it for profitability: The President insists the airline should remain locally owned: Whilst it posted an operating profit in 2023, its debt is $1.2 billion: The restructuring aims to strengthen the airline’s finances, supporting tourism, which contributes significantly to the nation’s economy.
   
9. Sri Lankan-born attorney Vincent Perera was sworn in as the new Attorney General of Seychelles: pledges to uphold the rule of law and plans to enhance prosecutors’ skills through training: aims to tackle case backlogs and bring changes based on his international experience: replaces Frank Ally and will serve for four years, providing legal advice to the government.
   
10. Five Sri Lankan cricketers have been selected for the 11th edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) starting in December: Thisara Perera will play for Dhaka Capitals, Angelo Mathews and Binura Fernando for Chittagong Kings, Lahiru Samarakkon for Durbar Rajshahi, and Pathum Nissanka will represent Fortune Barisal.