News

Court bans 8 accounts of an American financial company

Published

2 months ago

April 20, 2023

editor

Colombo Chief Magistrate Prasanna Alwis yesterday (19) ordered an American company named ‘Binance.com’, which had invested in OnmaxDT Pvt. Company accused of earning USD 100 million through illegal pyramid schemes, to freeze eight accounts of the company.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) informed the court that according to the Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, this is the first time that a Sri Lankan court has issued an order to an American financial institution.

It was revealed that more than Rs.430 million rupees have been deposited in eight accounts of the American financial company ‘Binance.com’, and accordingly, the CID requested an order to suspend the transactions of those eight accounts for a period of six months from yesterday (19).

Accordingly, the eight suspended accounts are Onmax DT Private Limited (Sri Lanka), Onmax Pty Ltd. Company (Australia), the account established in the name of Sri Lankans Dhananjaya Gayan, Sampath Sandaruwan Lenaduwage, Saranga Randika Jayatissa (two accounts), Vikramapeli Gedera Chandrakanti and Kahadawa Arachchige Athula Indika Sampath.

Earlier, the Magistrate imposed a travel ban on six directors of the Onmax DT, Sampath Sandaruwan, Athula Indika Sampath, Gayashan Abeyratne, Madhuranga Prasanna, Saranga Randika, and Dhananjaya Jayan.

The CID informed the court that statements were recorded from two persons regarding two accounts of Onmax.

The CID also requested the court to issue an order to submit the mobile phones and computers of the two persons to the Computer Emergency Readiness Team to inspect the accounts. Accordingly, the Magistrate issued the order.

On the 28th, orders were issued by the court to freeze 57 bank accounts under the name of the company in Bank of Ceylon, Central Finance, Nations Trust, Seylan Bank and People’s Trust banks.

According to a complaint made by the Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the facts regarding this incident were reported to the court by the Financial Crimes Investigation Unit of the CID.

The CID informed the court that by registering a company as ‘Onmax DT’ private company and conducting illegal pyramid transactions through that company, more than 100 million US dollars had been transacted in Crypto Currency Wallets.

The CID reported to the court that the owners of the company have committed a punishable offence under Section 83 A (1) of the Banking Act and Section 3 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

(Lankadeepa)

News

Cabinet green light to ratify Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty

Published

14 hours ago

June 6, 2023

editor

Cabinet approval has been granted to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and to take the necessary steps for legislation to enforce the provisions of the agreement.

The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on Sep. 10, 1996. By the treaty, member states agreed to ban “any nuclear weapons test or other nuclear explosion” anywhere in the world. So far, 186 countries have signed the agreement and 177 countries have ratified the agreement.

Sri Lanka signed the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty on October 24, 1996. Sri Lanka is currently cooperating with the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization in the areas of training, capacity development, data and information sharing. Sri Lanka’s ratification of the treaty would recognize Sri Lanka’s diplomatic role as an active proponent of international peace and security in a world free of nuclear weapons.

According to the government, ratifying the agreement will also enable the country to obtain useful data for civil and scientific purposes that will benefit many developing countries including Sri Lanka, such as tsunami warnings, climate change and geographical studies.

News

Overseas travel ban slapped on Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam

Published

14 hours ago

June 6, 2023

editor

The Kilinochchi Magistrate’s Court has issued an overseas travel ban on Ahila Ilankai Thamil Congress (AITC) MP – Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam over the recent incident of verbally abusing police officers during a function, police spokesman – SSP Nihal Thalduwa says.

Yesterday, the magistrate ordered to remand the AITC’s main female organizer in the North – East region, over the incident.

News

Verdict on petition challenging Diana Gamage’s MP seat, postponed

Published

14 hours ago

June 6, 2023

editor

The Court of Appeal has deferred the pronouncement of the verdict on the petition filed seeking an order to annul the Parliamentary seat of State Minister Diana Gamage.

Accordingly, the verdict is expected to be pronounced on the 25th of July.

The petition was called this morning before President of the Court of Appeal Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and Justice A Marikkar.

Court heard arguments pertaining to the petition previously and was expected to announce the verdict today.

The writ petition was filed before the Court of Appeal calling for State Minister Diana Gamage to be stripped of her Parliamentary seat by activist Oshala Herath on the 15th of November 2022.

State Minister Gamage, the Immigration and Emigration Controller, the Minister of Public Security, the General Secretary of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, the National Election Commission and its members, and the General Secretary of Parliament were cited as respondents in the petition.

(newsradio.lk)