Measures are underway to bring back more than 20 wanted criminals who are residing overseas and directing criminal activities here, Police Media Spokesman SSP Buddhika Manatunga said yesterday.

He said Interpol red notices have been issued and preparations are underway to bring more than 20 such criminals currently residing in countries like Dubai, India and Canada.

He made this revelation while addressing the media at the Katunayake airport yesterday when notorious underworld criminal ‘Loku Pattie’ was brought back to Sri Lanka from Belarus.

Manatunga said eleven such criminals have been repatriated to Sri Lanka in the recent past with the help of Interpol and relevant foreign governments.

He went on to say that bringing back wanted criminals who are residing overseas was part of the current operations against the underworld, drug traffickers and criminal gangs.

(dailynews.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailynews.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

As part of the on-going state visit to Vietnam, President Anura Kumara Disanayake visited the Bai Dinh Pagoda, one of the largest Buddhist temple complexes in Southeast Asia yesterday afternoon (04), where he paid homage and received blessings.

The President received a warm and heartfelt welcome from the Vietnamese people, who had gathered near the entrance of the temple, waving the national flags of both Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

A large crowd lined the pathway within the temple grounds to catch a glimpse of the Sri Lankan President, expressing their respect and goodwill by waving the two nations’ flags.

Upon reaching the main Buddha shrine, President Disnayake paid his respects. The resident monks then chanted Seth Pirith and invoked blessings on the President.

Subsequently, the President paid homage at the Sri Maha Bodhi sapling on the temple grounds, a sacred branch from the Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, which was gifted to the Bai Dinh Pagoda and planted there in 2023.

The outer wall constructed around the sacred Bodhi under the technical guidance of Sri Lanka’s Central Cultural Fund was also officially declared open by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on this occasion.

Later the President planted a sapling of the sacred Sal tree within the temple premises, and observed the commemorative plaque marking the occasion.

As a gesture of reverence, President Disanayake presented a memento to the Chief Incumbent of the temple.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, along with other members of the Sri Lankan delegation, were also present for the occasion.

(President’s Media Division)

A 19-year old has been killed in a shooting incident that occurred this morning (May 05) on Beach Road, Mount Lavinia.

According to the police, 02 unidentified individuals who arrived on a motorcycle carried out the shooting and fled the scene.

The deceased has been identified as a resident of Orban Place, Dehiwala.

Further investigations are underway by the Mount Lavinia Police.