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Potta Naufer’s son among ISIS suspects arrested In India

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Sri Lankan detectives have uncovered that one of the four Sri Lankans with suspected links to ISIS who was arrested in Indian earlier this week, is the son of a notorious underworld don.
The four suspects arrested by Indian detectives are:

33-year-old Mohammad Nusrat from Periyamulla, Negombo.

27-year-old Mohammad Nafran from Grandpass, Colombo.

35-year-old Mohammad Farish from Maligawatte, Colombo.

43-year-old Mohammad Rashdeen from Colombo 13.

Iterestingly, 27-year-old Mohammad Nafran has been identified as the son of Niyas Naufer aka ‘Potta Naufer’ the notorious underworld criminal who was sentenced to death for the killing of High Court Judge Sarath Ambepitiya.

Investigations have also revealed that Nafran dropped out of school, and commenced a business by traveling to India, purchasing clothing material, and returning to Sri Lanka to sell it.

In 2017, Nafran was arrested by Sri Lanka Police for a charge filed under the National Gem And Jewellery Authority Act.

In addition, detectives have uncovered that Nafran also frequented India, and Dubai for business.

Four ISIS terrorists were arrested in Ahmedabad on Monday, days after the city airport received a bomb threat. The terrorists – Sri Lankan nationals – were arrested by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad after a tip-off.

Giving details of the operation to arrest the four ISIS terrorists, police said multiple teams were formed after the officials received the information that the suspects were planning to travel to Ahmedabad to carry out terror attacks in India.

Vikash Sahay, Director General of Police, Gujarat, said these four terrorists had boarded an IndiGo flight bound for Ahmedabad from Chennai yesterday.

He said the arrests were made after checking the list of passengers coming from the Southern region and getting their identities confirmed by officials in Colombo.

On May 12, the Ahmedabad airport received a bomb threat email which turned out to be a hoax after security personnel searched the airport complex, but nothing suspicious was found.

The threat email was sent by an unidentified person on the official email ID of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in the afternoon, following which the security personnel at the airport scanned the entire airport.

Investigation carried out by the Indian police has revealed more details.

Indian Police said the four men “had been in touch with a man named Abu in Pakistan through social media”.

Indian Police added that Abu encouraged them to carry out a terror attack in India.

India’s The Hindu reported that the four Sri Lankans who were arrested, belong to the National Thawheed Jamaath organization.

The National Thawheed Jamaath organization is the group that was led by Zaharan Hasheem, who carried out the brutal Easter Sunday terror attacks in Sri Lanka in 2019.

Indian detectives suspect that the group may have been planning to carry out an attack at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, which is hosting the IPL games.

The Indian media also reported that the ISIS terrorists planned to assassinate Senior BJP leaders Nubur Sharma, Rajah Singh, and Updesh Rana.

The Indian media reported that details with regard to these plots were uncovered when extracting information from the mobile phones used by these suspects.

Police said after scanning their mobile phones, they found photographs of some weapons and location data of Nanachiloda near Ahmedabad.

The Gujarat ATS later recovered three Pakistani pistols and 20 cartridges, as indicated in the photographs, from Nanachiloda area.

Moreover, the ISIS flag also was recovered, and the detained Sri Lankans disclosed that they were instructed to raise the flag after carrying out the attacks.

The Indian Police added that Abu encouraged them to carry out a terror attack in India, and that they were so radicalized that they also agreed to suicide bombing, as the Pakistani resident Abu also gave them 400,000 in Sri Lankan currency.

Police said after scanning their mobile phones, they found photographs of some weapons and location data of Nanachiloda near Ahmedabad.

The security at the Ahmedabad airport has been increased as the four Sri Lankan men have been detained at an undisclosed location.

(News1st) (This story, originally published by News1st has not been edited by SLM staff)

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Petition filed against barring women from ‘Station Master’ posts

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The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka today (July 11) granted leave to proceed with a Fundamental Rights petition filed by two women challenging the gender-based restriction preventing women from applying for the position of Station Master in Sri Lanka Railways.

The petition was taken up before a three-judge bench comprising Justices A.H.M.D. Nawaz, Priyantha Fernando, and Sampath Wijeratne.

Appearing on behalf of the petitioners, Attorney-at-Law Nuwan Bopage submitted that the Railways Department had issued a gazette notification dated June 13, calling for applications to fill 106 vacant Station Master positions.

However, the notification stipulated that only male applicants were eligible to apply.

The counsel for the petitioners argued that this constituted a violation of the petitioners’ fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 12(1) and 12(2) of the Constitution, which ensure equality before the law and prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender.

He further contended that the restriction also infringed upon the petitioners’ right to engage in employment of their choice.

Accordingly, the petitioners sought a declaration from the court that their fundamental rights had been violated and requested an order to remove the discriminatory provision in the said gazette notification, which limits eligibility to only male candidates.

After considering the facts presented, the Supreme Court granted leave to proceed with the petition and scheduled the plaint for hearing on August 27.

(adaderana.lk)

(This story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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Chemmani mass grave : ITAK urges President AKD to take urgent measures

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The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK) has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake urging to take immediate action to ensure truth, justice, with regard to the ongoing Chemmani mass grave investigation.

The letter emphasized that over 65 skeletons, including those of infants, have been recovered so far, affirming the scale of atrocities allegedly committed in the region.

ITAK also called for the public release of all forensic reports and DNA findings and warned that symbolic reconciliation would remain hollow without legal accountability.

Signed by senior ITAK leaders C.V.K. Sivagnanam and M.A. Sumanthiran, the letter urge the President to implement the following without delay :

  1. Consolidate the legal cases related to the 1999 and 2025 exhumations into a single judicial and forensic inquiry under the Colombo and Jaffna Magistrate’s Courts.
  2. Engage independent, internationally respected forensic experts to oversee all stages of the investigation, ensuring forensic integrity and public trust.
  3. Publicize all interim and final forensic reports, DNA profiles and identification results, and facilitate access for victims’ families, civil society and international observers.
  4. ⁠Repatriate the remains excavated in 1999, currently believed to be held in Glasgow, so they may be examined under the same protocols and returned to their families with dignity.
  5. ⁠Allocate significantly enhanced financial and logistical resources to ensure that the current excavation is completed under international standards; hundreds of families continue searching for missing loved ones, and without truth and accountability, reconciliation remains a facade.Concurrently, take steps to prosecute those responsible for these heinous crimes, which is essential for national healing.

The ITAK’s letter is as follows :

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Let’s build a nation rooted in historical heritage (Pics)

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President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that a society cannot progress without a meaningful connection to its historic heritage and that the nation’s development path must be chosen accordingly.

The President made these remarks while addressing a ceremonial gathering yesterday (July 10) afternoon at the historic Ruhunu Kataragama sacred site.  

Earlier in the day, President Dissanayake visited the sacred grounds of Kataragama, participated in religious observances and later paid a courtesy call on the Venerable Kobawaka Dhamminda Nayaka Thera, the Chief Incumbent of the historic Kirivehera Rajamaha Viharaya, inquiring about his well-being and engaging in a brief discussion.

The President also attended the final Randoli Maha Perahera (Golden Chariot Grand Procession) of the annual Esala Festival at the Ruhunu Kataragama Maha Devalaya, where he witnessed the ceremonial placement of the sacred relic casket upon the relic bearing tusker.  

Addressing the gathering, President Dissanayake further emphasised that a nation can only move forward by maintaining continuity with its historic heritage. He noted that every developed country in the world has achieved progress by preserving its historical legacy and building upon it, stressing that Sri Lanka, too, must choose a development path anchored in its heritage.

The President highlighted that Buddhism played a pivotal role in transforming our society into a cultured civilisation and that cultural festivals like this help revive and strengthen the moral and social values of a society often preoccupied with material pursuits.  

He pointed out that the Ruhunu Kataragama Perahera has been held continuously for 2,186 years, spanning nearly a hundred generations and that its survival has been possible due to the deep connection between this cultural ceremony and the lives of the people. The President extended his gratitude to all those, including the Chief Incumbent, who contributed to the success of this year’s procession.  

Among those present at the occasion were Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, R.M. Jayawardena, Governor of the Uva Province, Attorney-at-Law Kapila Jayasekara, Member of Parliament Ruwan Wijeweera, Chairman of the Kataragama Pradeshiya Sabha, Dharmapala Herath and Monaragala District Secretary Pasan Ratnayake.

(President’s Media Division)

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