News

Man who stole Magistrate’s car arrested

Published

2 years ago

February 14, 2023

editor

The suspect who stole the official vehicle of Kuliyapitiya Magistrate and Additional District Judge Amila Sampath Ariyasena, has been arrested.

Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said that the suspect was arrested in Oliyamulla, Wattala.

The stolen vehicle has also been taken into police custody.

During the search of the suspect’s house at the Mount Clifford Residencies in Homagama, two fake pistols, four pointed knives, a bottle containing poisonous liquid and a bag containing chili powder were found.

The suspect has been arrested following a lengthy investigation based on the suspect’s call made to the Magistrate asking for Rs.500,000 to release the car.

Gamage Nilantha, the Chief Inspector of Mount Lavinia Criminal Investigation Division, has contacted the suspect impersonating as a brother of the Magistrate and has told him that the Magistrate has been hospitalized due to a sudden illness.

The CI has told the suspect to contact him if any financial transaction was necessary. After carefully gaining his trust and making him visit Wattala, the suspect was arrested by the police.

The arrested suspect is a 27-year-old resident of Wattala.

News

Sri Lanka grants clearance for FAO ship

Published

1 hour ago

June 23, 2025

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Sri Lanka has officially granted clearance for a research vessel operated by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations to conduct scientific research in Sri Lankan territorial waters, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism said.

The vessel is scheduled to carry out its mission from August 15 – August 20, 2025.

Dr. Fridtjof Nansen is a research vessel that conducts surveys, collecting vital data on fish stocks, biodiversity, and oceanographic conditions. It sought to carry out research activities in Sri Lankan waters, but the government had earlier denied access for it in the absence of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for foreign research vessels.

This posed the possibility of a cancellation, which could have deprived Sri Lanka of over USD 01 million worth of support while affecting future Green Climate Fund initiatives. It was also reported that the next possible deployment would not occur until after 2030.

A year-long moratorium on foreign research vessels expired in December 2024 followed by a cabinet decision in late January to appoint a special committee to amend the SOP for granting diplomatic clearance to foreign research vessels in Sri Lanka.

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News

Anuradhapura Prison chief granted bail

Published

1 hour ago

June 23, 2025

editor

The Superintendent of the Anuradhapura Prison – Mohan Karunaratne who was in remand custody, has been granted bail.

The Anuradhapura Magistrate’s Court granted bail under two sureties of Rs. 500,000 each and imposed an overseas travel ban on him.

Karunaratne was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on June 08 over the alleged unauthorized release of an inmate convicted of multiple counts of fraud and corruption under a presidential amnesty.The case is to be taken up again on Aug. 04.

News

SL calls to de-escalate situation in Middle East

Published

3 hours ago

June 23, 2025

editor

The Government of Sri Lanka has expressed grave concern about the latest developments in the Middle East.

A statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism states, “We continue to call upon all parties to take concrete steps to de-escalate the situation.”

“All concerned parties should return to dialogue and engage in intense diplomatic efforts to establish and maintain peace with a view to ensuring stability in the Middle East region,” the statement adds.