News

S.Korea pledges support to uplift SL’s economy

Published

3 days ago

September 19, 2023

editor

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol pledged his support for President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s economic recovery plan for Sri Lanka.

He praised President Wickremesinghe’s programme aimed at alleviating the severe economic crisis in the country and commended his dedication.

Additionally, President Yoon mentioned the potential for expanding the scope for job opportunities in South Korea for Sri Lankan youth in the future.

The South Korean leader lauded President Wickremesinghe’s efforts to address Climate Change issues based on the COP 27 agenda and proposed for Sri Lanka and Korea to enter into a Bilateral Climate Change Agreement.

He further proposed the need to expedite the conclusion of a Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement with a view to facilitating more Korean investment bringing in new technology to Sri Lanka.

The official meeting between Presidents Wickremesinghe and President Yoon occurred alongside the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly at the South Korean Permanent Resident Mission to the United Nations in New York.

The leaders discussed the strengthening of diplomatic relations that began in 1978 and explored opportunities for further expansion.

President Wickremesinghe emphasised the importance of expeditiously finalizing a trade agreement between the two nations.

Both leaders prioritised enhancing trade and investment relations between Sri Lanka and South Korea.

Additionally, President Yoon expressed gratitude for the valuable contributions of Sri Lankan youths working in South Korea to the country’s economy.

Furthermore, the South Korean President highlighted that Sri Lankan workers who have gained skills in South Korea will return to contribute to Sri Lanka’s economy positively.

He also applauded the commitment of the Sri Lankan President to address climate change. President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasised Sri Lanka’s digitization efforts, while the South Korean President noted that Sri Lanka can draw valuable lessons from South Korea’s remarkable achievements in digitization.

In a friendly gesture, President Yoon extended an invitation to President Ranil Wickremesinghe for an official visit to South Korea in the near future.

Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake, Foreign Secretary Aruni Wijewardane and other senior officials from Sri Lanka and Korea participated in the meeting.

News

Motion approved to remove MP Ali Sabri Raheem from Parliamentary committees

Published

4 mins ago

September 22, 2023

editor

A motion to remove MP Ali Sabri Raheem from all Parliamentary Committees was approved by the House a short while ago.

The motion which was moved by Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa was unanimously approved by the House.

MP Raheen was caught trying to smuggle gold and smartphones in May this year.

(dailymirror.lk)

News

Rocky successfully carries out ‘call termination’ racket

Published

24 mins ago

September 22, 2023

editor

Local phone service providers including Telecom and Mobitel as well as the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) are losing a colossal amount of revenue due to a ‘call termination’ racket operating in Sri Lanka, it was reported.

Agencies conducting investigations into the matter have received information that one such racketeer earns as much as Rs.02 – 05 million per day.

It was reported that these racketeers earn this amount by redirecting over 100,000 minutes of IDD calls in a single day.

Sri Lanka Telecom PLC is equipped with the technology to detect this kind of call termination scams and has also set up a separate unit called the ‘Fraud Management Unit’ solely for this purpose.

This unit, which is currently operating under the networking division, is said to have been well-functioning when it was under the financial division.

Senior officials reportedly shirked from launching investigations into these racketeers by citing the arrival of mobile messaging apps such as WhatsApp, WeChat, IMO, Viber and Messenger as the reason for these daily revenue losses.

Meanwhile, investigations have revealed that the racket is currently being largely operated by an individual named ‘Rocky’ who is originally from Gampola and has now settled in Colombo.

Investigations revealed that Rocky is pretending to be an UK national and uses a phone number registered in England.

Apart from this, he is also said to be involved in Undiyal transactions.

He has been arrested by the police in connection with this fraud on a previous occasion as well.

According to security forces, those involved in this racket continue to do so again even after being reprimanded, as the relevant fine is as low as Rs.10,000.

Security forces also note that since such racketeers also support terrorist activities, questioning them under detention orders would enable them to weed out this racket altogether.

Heads of mobile phone service providers allege that the arrest of such traffickers keep getting delayed due to the lukewarm reaction by the investigation departments.

Meanwhile, former chairpersons of service providers, former cricket players and former presidential secretaries have also been accused by the media of being involved in this racket.

News

Excise officials kidnap beedi businessman & forcefully take Rs.1mn

Published

2 hours ago

September 22, 2023

editor

The Walasmulla Police have launched an investigation into an incident where a Beedi businessman was kidnapped and assaulted before forcefully taking Rs.1 million from him.

The business license of the businessman residing in Maraketiya, Rajapuragoda in Walasmulla expired on June 26. A team of excise officials including the OIC of the Tangalle Excise Unit had arrived at his house on September 18 and seized the Beedi leaves.

Excise officials had demanded Rs.1.4 million from the businessman not to take legal action in this regard.

They had taken the businessman away in a three-wheeler, beaten him up, and then had taken an amount of Rs.1 million by force.