News

Death penalty for 10 grams of heroin instead of two!

Published

11 months ago

November 10, 2022

editor

Under the Poisons, Opium And Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Act, the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board has proposed to change the law that warrants death penalty for keeping two grams of heroin in possession.

Accordingly, it has proposed to increase the amount of drugs in possession to 10 grams in order to receive the death penalty.

The draft bill is to be presented to Parliament today (10).

Previously, keeping two grams of heroin in possession was punishable by death, 20 years of imprisonment and life imprisonment.

Accordingly, Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said the Parliament Standing Committee agreed to the proposal that cases with less than 10 grams should be submitted to the Magistrate’s Courts, those above 10 grams should be submitted to the High Court and the relevant bail request should be referred to the Court of Appeal.

The Advisory Committee in this regard was held in Parliament recently under the chairmanship of Justice Minister Rajapakshe and it was attended by Minister Ali Sabry and MPs Talatha Athukorala, Anupa Pasqual and Rauff Hakeem.

News

Date announced for Grade 05 scholarship exam

Published

9 hours ago

October 3, 2023

editor

The 2023 Grade 05 scholarship exam will be held on 15 October, the Department of Examinations says.

Accordingly, the exam will be held at 2,888 centres across the country, Commissioner General of Examinations – H. J. M. Amith Jayasundara said.

News

Nadeesha wins Silver at Asian Games

Published

10 hours ago

October 3, 2023

editor

Nadeesha Dilhani Lekamge has won the silver medal in the women’s javelin throw event at the 2023 Asian Games currently being held in Hangzhou, China.

She won the silver with an impressive throw of 61.57m which is also her personal best.

India’s Annu Rani won the gold medal in the event while China’s Lyu Huihui won the bronze medal.

This is the first athletics medal for Sri Lanka at the Asian Games in 17 years and only the second medal for the island nation so far this year.

News

Fish processing unit at Oluwil to be leased

Published

10 hours ago

October 3, 2023

editor

The cabinet has previously given approval to reactivate the unused fish processing plant in the Oluwil fishing port premises and provide facilities to the TES (Private) Company Limited to run fish processing activities.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Fisheries to lease the fish processing unit located in the Oluwil Ports Complex to TES (Private) Company Limited for a period of 10 years subject to the relevant rent being charged monthly, as recommended by the Cabinet Appointed Negotiation Committee.