News

House sprayed with bullets for defying extortion in Kandana

Published

10 months ago

August 6, 2023

editor

Two persons who came on a motorcycle had shot at a house in Kandana Pio Mawatha with a T-56 weapon, where a businessman who had refused to pay extortion money of Rs. 5 million demanded by an underworld criminal in Dubai, was living and the culprits had fled yesterday (4).

A call had been given to this businessman who was engaged in buying meat from farms and selling them to supermarkets demanding Rs.5 million.

This demand had been made by a member of the underworld named “Chooti Malli” who had been living in Kandana but was now hiding in Dubai.

Although he had been calling the businessman for a week and demanding the money, the businessman had told him that he would not pay money earned through sweat and effort as extortion money.

It is stated that Chooti Malli had said, “If so, there is nothing I can do about it. You resolve it with Waruna.”

Police information revealed that the person named Waruna was a powerful member connected to an underworld gang in operation in Gampaha and that Heenatiyana Mahesh and Waruna were members of the same group.

Heenatiyana Mahesh is said to be intimidating businessmen in Minuwangoda, Seeduwa and Negombo while hiding in Dubai and collecting extortion money, according to information received by the police.

The Police Special Task Force had received information that he had recently demanded Rs.50 million from a businessman in Negombo.

Police said they are receiving confirmation that those who shot at the house of the businessman in Kandana are also henchmen of Waruna.

During investigations it was apparent that about 15 gunshots had been fired at the gate and parapet wall of the house.

The owner of the motorcycle in which the shooters had arrived had been identified yesterday itself and taken into custody yesterday morning.

When he was questioned he had said that based on a phone call received from Chooti Malli in Dubai, he had lent the motorbike to a person named Santhika to be used for a week. Santhika is a resident of Kandana.

Police said that after the shooting, he has fled and gone into hiding. A top police officer said that he is a close associate of Chooti Malli and is connected to drug dealing.

(Sunday Observer)

News

Senior diplomat to oversee Sri Lankan embassy in Russia

Published

8 hours ago

May 19, 2024

nipuni

It is reported that the government has planned to send a senior officer of the foreign service to the Sri Lankan embassy in Russia until a new ambassador is appointed due to the lack of an ambassador.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Taraka Balasuriya has told the media that the absence of an ambassador is just a gap in the work procedure, and based on the current situation in Russia, a senior official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be directed to supervise its affairs.

He emphasized that a retired foreign service senior is being sent and the lack of an ambassador is not a major problem.

The Minister further stated that there is already a senior Foreign Service officer there, and given the urgent need, a very senior Foreign Service officer is being sent not because the officer currently in Russia is inadequate.

Mr. Balasuriya has stressed that this is being done to strengthen the operation and that the work will be done according to the normal protocol.

However, even though an ambassador has been appointed to Russia, Mr. Balasuriya has made arrangements not to reveal who it is to the media.

The former Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation, Prof. Janitha A. Liyanage, was given three extensions, and she ended her service at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Moscow on April 29.

At present, Counsellor Ruvini K. Munidasa serves as the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy.

News

Colombo air show and CADE 2024 exhibition postponed to next year

Published

18 hours ago

May 18, 2024

editor

The Colombo Air Show and Defence Exhibition (CADE 2024), initially set to take place from May 29 to June 2 at Galle Face and Colombo Port City, has been postponed to next year, according to the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF).

The SLAF stated that the decision to reschedule the event was made in response to multiple requests from international partners, defence industry stakeholders, and foreign Air Forces. This postponement aims to enhance participation and provide a more diverse experience for spectators.

The rescheduled event will now be held from February 26 to March 2, 2025, coinciding with the 74th anniversary of the Sri Lanka Air Force.

News

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar arrives in Sri Lanka

Published

18 hours ago

May 18, 2024

editor

The Global Peace Ambassador and Spiritual Leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar arrived in Sri Lanka this afternoon (18) for a three-day visit. He was welcomed at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake by State Minister of Defence Premitha Bandara Tennakoon and Eastern Province Governor Senthil Thondaman.

During his stay from May 18 to 20, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will participate in an event titled ‘Ekamuthuva: An Evening of Music, Meditation and Wisdom,’ which will be held at Taj Samudra on May 19. Renowned for his global humanitarian efforts and as a peace envoy, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is also an Indian yoga guru and the founder of ‘Transcendental Meditation’.