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Aiding ‘Buru Moona’ flee country: BIA police officers’ bank accounts to be probed

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The bank accounts of the BIA Police OIC and other officers who are accused of aiding and abetting a wanted criminal involved in 19 murders escape the country would be inspected, Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Western Province, Deshabandu Tennakoon, said.

The suspect was arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake. However, the police officers are accused of helping him escape the country.

It is suspected that following the release of the suspect Koralekankanamlage Ravindu Warnasinghe alias Buru Moona from the police custody, a transaction of around 15 million rupees has taken place.

The suspect, who attempted to travel abroad with a fake passport despite having a flight ban, was arrested by the immigration officials at the BIA and was handed over to the airport police at around 6 pm on the 24th.

This suspect, who was handed over to the police, was detained in the police cell until that night. Meanwhile, three persons appeared to be Buddhist monks have arrived at the police station and discussed with the OIC about his release.

They have told the OIC to remove the handcuffs of the suspect so that he can have his dinner.

The OIC had then instructed the officer in charge of the police cell to remove the suspect’s handcuffs and take him out of the cell.

The monks had left the police station saying that they would return with food. One of them had invited the officer who was on duty to come out of the police station to give him a bottle of whiskey. 

When the police officer went outside to get the bottle of whiskey, the suspect had escaped the police station and had run away by pushing the police officers away.

The suspect had fled towards Chilaw in a yellow Aqua car and it is suspected that he had escaped to India by boat from Chilaw.

A senior police officer said that there is serious doubts regarding the escape of the suspect and that information has been received about a money transaction of 15 million rupees surrounding this incident.

The escaped suspect has been identified as the main suspect in the shooting to death of a restaurant owner at the Mosque Road in Hanwella on December 18, 2022.

The officers who investigated into this murder had come across a photo of the suspect’s passport.

Later, a flight ban was obtained from the Awissawella Magistrate’s Court against the suspect.

The suspect was arrested when he arrived at the BIA without knowing that a flight ban had been imposed on him.

Katunayake OIC Janaka Senadheera, Duty Sergeant Senaratne, Constables Rathnayake and Kumara were arrested on charges of aiding and abetting the escape of the suspect arrested by the police.

Three of the arrested officers, except the Duty Sergeant, were released after being produced in the Negombo Magistrate’s Court.

Investigations have revealed that one of the Buddhist monks who helped the criminal escape has been identified as a monk residing at a temple in Hettipola under the protection of the underworld .

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Materials worth Rs. 12 mn. from consumer goods warehouse, misplaced

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The Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) met recently under the chairmanship of the State Minister Hon. Lasantha Alagiyawanna and the Auditor General’s reports for the years 2020, 2021 and 2022 and the current performance of the Ministry of Defence were discussed.

Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, General (retired) Kamal Gunaratne and a group of officers participated in this meeting.

Expedite amendment of Firearms Act

COPA had directed the officials of the Ministry of Defence to expedite the amendment of the Firearms (Amendment) Act No. 22 of 1996 and the Explosives (Amendment) Act, which have been delayed for many years.
Although the committee had recommended to amend the Firearms (Amendment) Act No. 22 of 1996 and the Explosives (Amendment) Act since 2012, it was revealed that it has been delayed due to various reasons. Officials also said that so far about 37,000 firearms have been licensed in the country. The officials mentioned that the amendment of the Act is in the final stage and the draft bill will be completed soon. The committee emphasized the need to speed up the process as the license fees should be revised and the state revenue will be lost due to this delay. Accordingly, it was also advised to submit a report on the progress.

Although it was mentioned in the constitution that the revenues generated by the services provided to external parties by the armed forces should be credited to the consolidated fund, attention was also drawn to the fact that it was not implemented properly. Although it was previously informed to prepare a proper system related to it and report to the committee, the committee asked about the fact that it has not yet been prepared. The Auditor General’s Department pointed out that since most of the income goes to the welfare associations, a proper system should be set up. Although the services are being successfully carried out, the committee also advised to prepare a clear system in this regard. He also instructed the ministry officials to review this process extensively.

Procurement of food itemsSpecial attention was also paid to the procurement of food items for the three-armed forces. It was revealed at the committee that although earlier recommendations had been given to set up an information management system connecting all the institutions involved in the food items procurement process for the three-armed forces, it is being implemented only in the Navy and the Air Force. Accordingly, the officers were ordered to expedite the preparation of the system for the Army and to submit a report on this. Also, it was emphasized in the committee that parties including the soldiers should receive a meal commensurate with the money spent by the government.

There was also a discussion regarding hiring a housing complex with 24 house units on a lease agreement for 72 million rupees, in order to provide accommodation for the 31 officers participating in the course of the National Defence Academy. Instead of getting houses on such a rent, the Committee Chair advised to pay attention to the possibility of providing accommodation facilities by constructing a new building. The Defence Secretary pointed out that since the construction has been stopped due to the current economic situation, measures will be taken in the future.

Materials worth Rs. 12 mn. misplaced!Attention was also drawn to the misplacement of materials worth 12 million rupees in the consumer goods warehouse. The officials said that all those persons related to this have been suspended and steps have been taken to collect the related money from the storekeeper. It was discussed why this incident was not revealed by the internal audit until it was uncovered by the audit of the Auditor General’s Department.

Apart from this, attention was also paid to the strategic communication network project, procurement process, role of Disaster Management Centre (DMC) etc.

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Major drug bust at Central Mail Exchange

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The Sri Lanka Customs at the Central Mail Exchange (CME) seized multiple consignments containing psychedelic drugs worth over Rs. 43 million, sent from European countries addressed to bogus recipients in Sri Lanka.

Customs Narcotics Control Unit officials following a special surveillance inside the CME detected 25 parcels sent from Germany and the United Kingdom during the weekend and found a variety of narcotics.

The parcels contained the Cannabis variety of ‘Kush’ weighing 1.74 Kgs, Methamphetamine drug contained 2,193 tablets of Ecstasy and 29 grams of Amphetamine drug varieties.

Customs Spokesman Senior Director Seevali Arukgoda said the parcels had been addressed to recipients in Colombo, Battaramulla, Maharagama, Boralesgamuwa, Panadura, Moratuwa and Kandy but all those were found to be fake addresses.

The Customs officials with the CME’s Postal Department officials carried out the inquiries and the contraband was to be handed over to the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB).

(dailymirror.lk)

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First digitized National Birth Certificate in SL, issued

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The first digitized National Birth Certificate with a barcode was issued today (Nov. 05).

The launch event was held at the Kalutara District Secretariat under the patronage of State Minister of Home Affairs –  Ashoka Priyantha.

The state minister notes that measures are already underway to broaden this programme to other districts.

He added that the number given in this National Birth Certificate will be converted into the National Identity Card number as per international standards.

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