News

Nirosha Nishanthi released on bail

Published

4 weeks ago

August 24, 2023

editor

A woman named Nirosha Nishanthi, who was arrested while in hiding after defrauding millions of rupees from a large number of people living in Galle and surrounding areas by assuring to pay high interests, was released on a surety bail of Rs.50 million by the Galle Magistrate’s Court.

The Illegal Assets Investigation Division of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has received information that this woman has also been engaged in a racket of importing and distributing expensive foreign liquor under the guise of re-exporting them.

A separate investigation has been launched into this as well. It has been revealed that she received the support of corrupt Customs officials in this smuggling.

One such Customs officer has been identified and the CID officers have interrogated him.

Upon questioning, he said that he had given her money as a depositor and was defrauded by her. However, the investigation revealed that the Customs officer has not made any complaint to the police in this regard.

An analysis of the phone records showed that the said Customs officer and the suspect woman contacted each other frequently.

The woman has taken money from many people saying that she will invest in a business of importing and selling liquor.

She had been unable to pay back her customers after a consignment of foreign liquor imported under the guise of re-shipment was stuck at the Customs or was unable to import the consignment as assured.

Investigations revealed that there were people who had given her more than Rs.10 million in cash.

In the past, there was a racket of importing expensive alcohol from European countries under the guise of re-exporting them to the Maldives. As a part of this racket, Customs seals were broken at the warehouses, bottles of alcohol were removed from containers and then replaced with bottles of water and finally Customs seals were placed again before shipping those containers to the Maldives.

The police and Customs were able to uncover this smuggling.

The Illegal Assets Investigation Division said that this woman is also suspected to have carried out a similar smuggling and a comprehensive investigation is being conducted in this regard.

On August 21, she was arrested by the CID officers for illegally amassing assets by defrauding the people.

News

Number of rabies deaths on the rise

Published

2 hours ago

September 21, 2023

editor

The Ministry of Health said that the number of people who have died from rabies has increased in the last few years.

Dr. Heshan Guruge, medical officer of the Anti-Rabies Division, said that the lack of knowledge about rabies as well as the bites of animals other than dogs have led to the increase in these deaths.

Dr. Guruge expressed these views while attending a discussion held yesterday (20) at the Health Promotion Bureau in conjunction with the World Rabies Day on September 28.

“When studying the human deaths that happened in the last few years due to rabies, we can see that a number of animals other than dogs have bit them. In some cases, it is not even possible to know who the animal is. Several people who had passed out after being drunk had been bitten by some animal. After a few days, the symptoms of rabies develop. Several such incidents were reported in the last two or three years. Proper first aid should be given in case of any animal bite. Wash the wound with soap and water. If you have alcohol at home, an iodine solution like betadine, surgical spirit, or an antiseptic liquid like hydrogen peroxide, you can use it. Then go to a hospital. If we do this, we can eliminate rabies from Sri Lanka,” he said.

Don’t get closer to new pets for two weeks

Meanwhile, Dr. Athula Liyanapathirana, community specialist of the Epidemiology Unit, said that 12 people have died due to rabies in 2023 so far.

He said that there is a risk of contracting rabies from the bites of all mammals.

The Anti-rabies Unit said that 25 to 30 people die from rabies every year.

The Epidemiology Unit requested the people not to get closer to pets such as dogs and cats for 14 days after bringing them home.

Arrangements should be made to vaccine the dogs against rabies before a period of four weeks has passed.

When bitten by a dog, the area should be washed and cleaned with soap for ten minutes, and after that it is important to seek medical treatment immediately.