News

Gota still under protection of 226 VIP security personnel

Published

2 years ago

October 28, 2022

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MP Thalatha Athukorala said that 226 security personnel from the VIP Security Division have been deployed to provide security to former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

Speaking at a news conference held in Colombo yesterday (27), she said there are about 6,000 police officers in the VIP Security Division.

“Out of these 6,000, a large number of people have been deployed for the protection of former presidents. The former president who is responsible for many current plights in this country has been provided with a security detail of 226 personnel,” she said.

Apart from this 226 VIP security personnel, MP Athukorala said Mr.Rajapaksa has also been given military and Special Task Forces protection.

“On one hand, the Inspector General of Police says that 4,000 police personnel are suffering from illnesses. On the other hand, he says 16,000 more are retiring. We are not certain if these police personnel were already sick when they were recruited, if they became disabled during a police duty, or if the stress increased after joining the police. These 4,000 should not be removed from the police force. They should be given the opportunity to work in their selected fields,” she said.

News

Arsenic contaminated tinned fish stock to be re-exported

Published

2 hours ago

October 12, 2024

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A consignment of canned fish, containing the toxic heavy metal ‘Arsenic’, has been found from the Customs storage complex in Orugodawatte.

In a statement, the Department of Government Information says that the consignment in five containers amounts to USD 215,000.

The toxic canned fish was inspected by the Secretary to the Ministries of Environment, Wildlife, Forest Resources, Water Supply, and Irrigation Prabath Chandrakeerthi yesterday (Oct. 11)

Mr. Chandrakeerthi has said that measures will be taken to re-export the stock instead of being destroyed in Sri Lanka.

“These canned fish were imported in May 2022. This contains toxic heavy metal ‘Arsenic’ beyond the stipulated weight level. Therefore, it is unfit for human consumption. It has been notified as usable as animal feed. As it is unfit for human consumption it clearly cannot be used as animal feed as well,” he said.

Further investigations are underway.

News

Luxury vehicle confiscated after CIABOC probe

Published

3 hours ago

October 12, 2024

editor

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has ordered the confiscation of a luxury vehicle seized by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).

Colombo Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage issued the order following a request made by CIABOC.

It is revealed that the vehicle, a Mitsubishi Montero jeep, belongs to a businessman from the Badulla area.

Investigations had uncovered that the vehicle was imported using falsified information provided to the Customs, resulting in the government being defrauded of more than Rs. 55 million in taxes.