Coinciding with the 15th Victory Day anniversary 3146 sailors have been advanced to their next higher rates by Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera, with the approval of Hon. President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

Sri Lanka’s security forces, including the armed forces, police, and Civil Security Department, played a critical role in defeating a nearly 30-year-long terrorism. Their selfless commitment, including those who made supreme sacrifice in the line of duty, were instrumental in a successful humanitarian operation that established sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.

In a ceremonious display of honour, the Navy celebrated the 15th anniversary of Victory Day with the advanced of 3146 senior and junior sailors across naval rates belonging to regular and volunteer forces with the recommendation of Commander of the Navy.

(dailynews.lk)

Two businessmen trying to smuggle in more than 1,000 mobile phones and 200 pen drives without declaring them to the Customs have been arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport today,  Customs officials said.

The two businessmen from Colombo had arrived from Dubai and tried to walk through the ‘Green Channel’ of the customs claiming they had nothing to declare.

However, they were checked on suspicion and they were found to be carrying 1,083 mobile phones and the pen drives.

The two persons have been detained for further questioning.

All four Sri Lanka Army personnel who had been indicted on charges of shooting dead three persons and injuring 45 others during a protest by villagers demanding clean drinking water in Rathupaswala in 2013 were today acquitted by the Gampaha High Court Trial-at-Bar.

Delivering its verdict, the three-judge High Court ordered the acquittal and release of all four accused – a Major and three Army soldiers.

The incident occurred on August 1, 2013, when army personnel opened fire on a protest by villagers in Weliweriya. The villagers were protesting against a factory which they said was contaminating groundwater in their area and were demanding clean drinking water.

(sundaytimes.lk)