News

Officials arrived from Pentagon disarmed SIS officers?

Published

7 months ago

February 23, 2023

editor

SLPP MP Wimal Weerawansa alleged in Parliament yesterday (22) that a group of officials who arrived from the Pentagon in the US had visited the State Intelligence Service (SIS) Office carrying their own weapons, and then had disarmed the SIS officers who were present at the office.

While making this allegation, the MP also made a request to inform Parliament about the decisions taken by the government during the discussions held with the officials from the Pentagon .

Making a statement prior to the parliamentary proceedings, the MP made this request and added, “A few days ago, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland arrived in the country. A few days later, a group of 20 Pentagon officials arrived in two American planes.”

“It was reported in the media that they met the President, the Defence Secretary and the heads of the intelligence agencies. Within a short time they left the country. The team was led by a head of that country’s defence department. They arrived from the VIP lounge at the Airport. As far as we know, the immigration affairs of these people had not been handled properly. Not only that, they have also visited the State Intelligence Service (SIS) Unit.”

“All the people in the SIS unit were disarmed but the officials of the Pentagon had entered with their weapons. As far as we know, these officers are trying to take all the information received by Sri Lanka’s intelligence to an American agency, and plan what information should be made public and what information should not be made public,” the MP said.

News

Rosewood timber stock rots in Customs for 9 years

Published

1 hour ago

September 27, 2023

editor

Sri Lanka Customs has had to store 3,669 logs of confiscated Rosewood weighing 420 metric tons at a cost of more than Rs.80 million as storage fees, a report issued by the National Audit Office said.

Although these logs were planned to be sold, they have been stored for 9 years due to the delay in obtaining the permit from the Wildlife Conservation Department.

The logs have already been damaged by insects.

These logs were sent from Zanzibar in Tanzania for re-export to Hong Kong via Sri Lanka by declaring them as African solid wood.

The audit report said that due to the delay in issuing the license, these logs have been stored in a Customs yard from 2014 until April 30, 2023.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board has to pay more than Rs.30 million to the Customs in the form of port development tax and value added tax for a high-powered radioactive element imported on April 23, 2021.

The report said that the overdue tax amount has not been paid to the Customs by January 1, 2023.

This information was revealed by an audit report included in the 2022 annual report of Sri Lanka Customs.

News

Muthuhettigama released on bail

Published

1 hour ago

September 27, 2023

editor

Former Member of Parliament Nishantha Muthuhettigama was released on bail by the Galle Magistrate’s Court today (27).

He was released on two sureties of Rs.5 million each and a cash bail of Rs 50,000. The next court hearing is scheduled to be held on February 02.

The former MP was arrested and remanded on charges of illegally assembling a luxury car.

News

Raids increased to nab train passengers sans tickets!

Published

1 hour ago

September 27, 2023

editor

Sri Lanka Railways has taken steps to increase raids to nab passengers travelling without tickets.

Frequent inspections to nab errant passengers were suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Due to this, people are more inclined to travel by train without tickets and the initial raids will be based on Maradana and Colombo Fort Railway Stations.

Meanwhile, the Railways Station Master’s Association said that nearly Rs.225,000 was collected from 72 passengers who travelled without tickets from the Maradana Railway Station from August upto now.