News

Magistrate immediately orders to arrest owners of smuggled cars, jeeps

Published

6 months ago

October 3, 2024

editor

Colombo Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage ordered the Bribery or Corruption Investigation Commission to immediately arrest the suspects involved in the smuggling of 200 luxury cars into Sri Lanka, depriving the government of Rs.5000 million in taxes and defrauding the Customs.

The Chief Magistrate made the order after considering the facts presented by the Intelligence Investigation Unit of the Bribery and Corruption Investigation Commission that only 20 vehicles out of the 200 have been handed over to the government.

The Bribery Commission informed the court that they had recently seized a Mitsubishi jeep worth over Rs.60 million and that the said vehicle was the 20th jeep found among the 200 jeeps smuggled into Sri Lanka.

The Bribery Commission informed court that although the court had ordered on September 18 to hand over the said jeep to the government immediately, the owner of the vehicle had not done so and had hidden the vehicle and this was found by intelligence officers recently. It was also said that after the court issued a warrant to the owner of the vehicle, the vehicle in his possession was seized.It has now been revealed that luxury jeeps and vehicles were imported after 2015 by providing false information to the Sri Lankan Customs and registered as normal vehicles imported before 2005 by entering false information into the data system of the Motor Traffic Department.

The Bribery Commission is investigating to seize the 200 luxury vehicles that have been imported into Sri Lanka in this manner.

After considering the facts presented by the commission, the magistrate pointed out that it is the responsibility of the Commission to immediately seize the cars that were smuggled in as well as arrest the suspects who have defrauded the government on a large scale and present them to court and ordered the arrest of the suspects involved.

(dailynews.lk)

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

BIZ

Cargills Bank issues statement on cybersecurity incident

Published

4 hours ago

April 2, 2025

editor

Private bank in Sri Lanka – Cargills Bank PLC has today (April 02) released another statement, updating the situation over a recent cyber security incident.

Cargills Bank PLC notes that despite the incident, the bank’s core operations remain fully secure and functional.

It adds that all banking services continue to function normally, and customers may carry out their transactions with complete confidence.

Previously, the bank had stated that an unauthorized party had claimed access to some of the bank’s data and subsequently published them.

The matter is said to be possibly the largest data breach in the country’s history.

The matter was also taken up by journalists at today’s cabinet media briefing. Responding, Cabinet spokesman – Minister Nalinda Jayatissa said that although the issue wasn’t taken up by the Cabinet Ministers yesterday, he believed that it may have been addressed by the Security Council.

BIZ

23 supermarket outlets raided

Published

4 hours ago

April 2, 2025

editor

The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has raided 23 supermarket outlets yesterday (April 01) as a part of their special raid and investigation program ahead of the upcoming festive season.

16 such outlets include prominent supermarket chains such as Cargills, Arpico and Keells, reports say,

‘Sri Lanka Mirror’ learns that these outlets face charges such as selling expired goods, not displaying prices, selling overpriced goods and misleading consumers and that the CAA is seeking legal action against these errant outlets.

According to a media release by the CAA, legal action has been taken against 172 supermarket outlets during the past year, resulting in courts ordering the culprits to pay Rs. Rs. 6.5 million in fines.

The CAA also urges the public to exercise caution and check details including the expiry date, when purchasing goods from supermarkets.

News

Special traffic plan due to Indian PM Modi’s visit

Published

5 hours ago

April 2, 2025

editor

Sri Lanka Police has announced that a special traffic plan will be implemented in Colombo and several other areas due to the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka later this week.

Under this special traffic plan, the Katunayake Expressway and Baseline Road will face several closures from 6.00 p.m. – 10.00 p.m. on April 04.

The police urges those heading towards the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake during this period to consider the road closures and plan ahead with regard to their travel plans.

On April 05, roads near the Galle Face Green and Independence Square in Colombo as well as the ‘Ape Gama’ premises in Battaramulla will also will face several closures.

Urging motorists use alternative routes, the police request the public for their kind cooperation in order to implement this special traffic plan.