A retired Major General and a Sergeant Major who were involved in an organized racket of sending retired military personnel as mercenaries to Russia have been arrested by the officers of the Trade, Smuggling and Maritime Crime Investigation Division of the Criminal Investigation Department yesterday (8) night.

Information from the Criminal Investigation Department stated that the Major General called Prasanna Ranawaka was an Army division Commander who retired from military service in 2022 and the Sergeant Major was a person named Sarath Wijesinghe.

Following a long investigation by the CID regarding this racket, the Major General and the Sergeant Major have been arrested.

These two suspects are residents of Kurunegala.

It is alleged that more than 500 retired military personnel have been sent to Russia as mercenaries and they have been promised high salaries and even citizenship in Russia, in some instances.

Investigations have now revealed that retired soldiers from this country have been taken and sold to the mercenary army after promising them jobs in Russian military camps.

Information has surfaced that six Sri Lankan’s have died and more than 25 people have been injured due to the Ukrainian attacks.

(dailynews.lk)

(This story, originally published by dailynews.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized on-going efforts to enact unified legislation addressing environmental protection and climate change. He highlighted the government’s commitment to crafting economic policies geared not only towards fostering export-oriented competitiveness but also towards transitioning to a green economy, aiming to achieve net-zero by 2050. 

Acknowledging the recent prolonged spells of extreme climate conditions as indicative of future climate change impacts, the President stressed the urgency of addressing climate mitigation measures promptly. 
He made these remarks while addressing the inaugural session of the Sri Lanka Climate Summit which commenced yesterday (07) at the Shangri-La, Colombo.

The inaugural Sri Lankan Climate Change Conference, hosted by the Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce, commenced yesterday under the theme “Climate Action for our Nation and the Planet.” Scheduled to run until May 09, the summit aims to foster a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted climate crisis, both from a global and national standpoint. It seeks to assess potential disruptions to critical sectors of the economy and deliberate on policy reforms necessary for transitioning towards a low-emission, climate-resilient economic framework.

During his address, President Wickremesinghe highlighted the nation’s proactive approach to combating climate change. He announced the establishment of a dedicated climate change centre in Sri Lanka and his instructions to the officials to model legislation based on the United Kingdom’s Climate Act, endorsed by global financial institutions. The President emphasized the significance of Sri Lanka’s role in addressing climate change, particularly within the Indian Ocean and the tropical belt and outlined plans for the International Climate Change University to be established in the country.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe stressed that the enhancement of the rural economy pivots on agricultural advancement. He highlighted the pivotal role of dedicated government officials at the grassroots level in ensuring the success of various government initiatives aimed at rural development, notably the agricultural modernization program. 

The President made these remarks during his address at the ceremony held at the Temple Trees today (08), where 2100 new Grama Niladhari officers were awarded appointment letters.

Following the Grama Niladhari Service Examination held by the Department of Examinations on 02nd December, 2023, 2100 candidates with the highest scores at the Divisional Secretariat Divisional Level were granted Grama Niladhari positions. 

President Ranil Wickremesinghe participated symbolically in distributing the appointment letters. He briefed the new GN Officers on government initiatives like “Aswesuma” and “Urumaya”, aimed at uplifting low-income individuals, urging them to actively engage in these programs for the economic development of their communities.