News

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

Published

4 weeks ago

February 27, 2023

editor

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 .

News

President’s House to be shifted to Sandun Uyana

Published

48 mins ago

March 27, 2023

editor

The government has decided to construct a new President’s Official Residence and the Presidential Secretariat on the site of the National ‘Sandun Uyana’ (Sandalwood Garden) built at a cost of Rs.300 million.

Since it has been decided to use the President’s House premises in Colombo Fort for a development project under the Colombo Port City Project, it has been decided to build a new President’s House and the Secretariat at the Sandun Uyana.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandana Wickramaratne has also recommended that the Sandun Uyana prepared in nine acres near the Parliament premises is suitable for that purpose.

Accordingly, President Ranil Wickremesinghe has informed the Urban Development Authority (UDA) to prepare future plans and submit a report.

The President’s Office said that it has also been decided to relocate the Prime Minister’s office and the Prime Minister’s official residence on another plot of land located near the Sandun Uyana.

The President has informed the UDA to look into the possibility of moving the Cabinet office to another plot of land nearby, and the President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake to study the space required for this construction and submit a report.

The Sandun Uyana project was built and opened during the tenure of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

A total of 300 red sandalwood plants and 900 white sandalwood plants were planted in the garden at a cost of Rs.300 million by the UDA.

Although this garden was planned to be opened by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on July 20, 2021, it was opened by Minister Namal Rajapaksa.

BIZ

Only 50 Dollars to go to India by passenger ferry!

Published

2 hours ago

March 27, 2023

editor

Sri Lanka will commence the operations of the passenger ferry service between Kankesanthurai and Pondicherry on April 29, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation said.

It said a passenger terminal is currently being constructed at the Kankesanthurai Port to facilitate the ferry service by the Sri Lanka Navy.

Ferry owners have mentioned during a recent discussion that they will be charging 50 US Dollars per passenger for a one-way trip, while allowing a passenger to carry baggage weighing 100kg.

A ferry is expected to carry 150 passengers at a time and will take around 4 hours to travel from Karaikal Port in Pondicherry to Kankesanthurai.

Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said that any businessman in India and Sri Lanka can join this passenger ferry service.

News

Uebert Angel brought in by Jerome Fernando involved in gold smuggling!

Published

2 hours ago

March 27, 2023

editor

It has been revealed that Zimbabwean pastor Uebert Angel, who was brought to Sri Lanka by ‘Born-Again’ religious sect leader Pastor Jerome Fernando, is involved in large-scale gold smuggling.

This was revealed during an investigation conducted by Al Jazeera News.

This pastor has also worked as a Zimbabwean diplomat.

The Zimbabwean pastor has participated in the services held at the Katunayake ‘Miracle Dome’ hall owned by Pastor Jerome Fernando on several occasions.

During his visit to Sri Lanka, the Zimbabwean pastor had met former presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa as well.

According to Al Jazeera, Uebert Angel has laundered millions of US dollars through gold smuggling.

Angel, appointed ambassador-at-large and a presidential envoy by Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa in March 2021, has told reporters he would be able to carry large volumes of dirty cash into the country using his diplomatic status.

The 44-year-old, who claims to be a prophet and heads a congregation — the Good News Church — with branches in 15 countries, said he would facilitate a scheme through which unaccounted cash could be exchanged for Zimbabwe’s gold.

Source – Aruna