News

Two Passport Dept officials arrested

Published

2 months ago

March 18, 2024

nipuni

A Deputy Controller of the Immigration and Emigration Department and a former Deputy Controller have been arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for allegedly helping two underworld figures flee the country by providing them with fake passports.

They have allegedly prepared fake passports to underworld figures Nuresh Supun Dayaratne alias “Heenatiyana Mahesh” and Shan Arosh Liyanage alias “Mathugama Shan”.

After an investigation into the incident, the two were taken into Police custody and a senior CID official said that further statements will be taken from them to obtain more information about the incident as well as whether they have prepared passports in this manner to help other criminals.

Police suspect that the two suspects may have received large sums of money to prepare these passports.

Investigations have uncovered that the suspect, a Deputy Controller of the Immigration and Emigration Department, had provided “Heenatiyana Mahesh” with a fake passport and the former Deputy Controller of the department had prepared a forged passport for “Mathugama Shan”.

In one passport prepared for “Heenatiyana Mahesh” a false name called “Manikkuge Dinesh Silva” has been entered with a fake passport number and a fake national identity card (NIC) number.

Meanwhile, the former Deputy Controller of the department is said to have prepared a fake passport for “Mathugama Shan” under the false name Donagoda Liyanage Kumara Jayasinghe.

The suspects have been arrested based on an investigation conducted under the supervision of the DIG in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department Premaratne.

The Criminal Investigation Department further states that the suspected former Deputy Controller of the Immigration and Emigration Department is currently working as a Deputy Director at the Pensions Department.

A senior officer of the Immigration and Emigration Department said that an internal investigation has been started regarding the conduct of these two officials.

(dailynews.lk)

News

Colombo air show and CADE 2024 exhibition postponed to next year

Published

10 hours ago

May 18, 2024

editor

The Colombo Air Show and Defence Exhibition (CADE 2024), initially set to take place from May 29 to June 2 at Galle Face and Colombo Port City, has been postponed to next year, according to the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF).

The SLAF stated that the decision to reschedule the event was made in response to multiple requests from international partners, defence industry stakeholders, and foreign Air Forces. This postponement aims to enhance participation and provide a more diverse experience for spectators.

The rescheduled event will now be held from February 26 to March 2, 2025, coinciding with the 74th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Air Force.

News

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar arrives in Sri Lanka

Published

10 hours ago

May 18, 2024

editor

The Global Peace Ambassador and Spiritual Leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar arrived in Sri Lanka this afternoon (18) for a three-day visit. He was welcomed at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake by State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon and Eastern Province Governor Senthil Thondaman.

During his stay from May 18 to 20, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will participate in an event titled ‘Ekamuthuva: An Evening of Music, Meditation and Wisdom,’ which will be held at Taj Samudra on May 19. Renowned for his global humanitarian efforts and as a peace envoy, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is also an Indian yoga guru and the founder of ‘Transcendental Meditation’.

News

President leaves for Indonesia

Published

21 hours ago

May 18, 2024

editor

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has left for Indonesia this morning (18) to attend the 10th World Water Forum High-Level Meeting in Bali, at the invitation of Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

The 10th World Water Forum is being held from May 18th to 20th in Bali, Indonesia.

This significant gathering, themed “Water for Shared Prosperity,” will convene global leaders to address pressing issues related to water management and sustainability.

President Wickremesinghe left for Indonesia on Saturday, following an invitation from Indonesian President Joko Widodo, underscoring Sri Lanka’s commitment to international cooperation on water-related challenges.

Scheduled to deliver a keynote address on May 20th, President Wickremesinghe will articulate Sri Lanka’s perspective on achieving equitable access to water resources for all, the President’s Media Division said.

During the forum, President Wickremesinghe is expected to engage in bilateral discussions, including a meeting with President Widodo, to explore avenues for collaborative action in water resource management.

His delegation, comprising senior officials from the Presidential Secretariat and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reflects Sri Lanka’s comprehensive approach to addressing global water issues.

President Wickremesinghe’s participation underscores Sri Lanka’s proactive role in advancing sustainable solutions to ensure water security, not only domestically but also on the global stage, the PMD said.