A delegation from Sri Lanka led by Speaker – Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana, who is on an official visit to India, recently met the Speaker of the Indian Lok Sabha, Hon. Om Birla.
The close relations between the two countries in many aspects, including culture, were taken up at these discussions.
The Indian Speaker pointed out that the close relationship between Sri Lanka and India, which has existed for thousands of years, should be maintained strongly in the future. Furthermore, the Speaker of the Indian Lok Sabha assured that India will be a strength to Sri Lanka during this economic crisis.
A meeting was also held between the Speaker of Sri Lanka and the Indian Foreign Minister Hon. Dr. S. Jaishankar. The Indian Foreign Minister stated that he will provide all support to overcome the economic challenge that Sri Lanka has to face. He also mentioned that steps will be taken to increase the number of Indian tourists visiting Sri Lanka. Discussions were also held regarding expediting visa facilities for Sri Lankans visiting India and providing free visa facilities to Indian tourists visiting Sri Lanka. Attention was also paid to the need to provide a solution for the large increase in onion prices in this country.
The Speaker also invited Indian investors to invest in Sri Lanka. The Indian Foreign Minister stated that many Indian investors are willing to invest in Sri Lanka and they are encouraged to do so.
Furthermore, the Speaker expressed his gratitude to the Indian Foreign Minister for standing up for Sri Lanka’s democracy when the country’s democracy was threatened during the previous crisis. The Speaker also thanked the Indian Minister of Foreign Affairs for giving two more years to pay off the 550 million Indian Rupees loan that was to be paid in three years. The Speaker expressed his special respect for the support provided to this country as a true relative of Sri Lanka more than any other country.
The delegation led by the Speaker also met the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and Vice President of India Mr. Jagdeep Dhankhar. Expressing his happiness regarding this meeting, Rajya Sabha Chairman stated that such a delegation from Sri Lanka came in after five years. It was discussed that the deep relationship between the people of the two countries should be further protected. The chairman of the Indian Rajya Sabha also pointed out the need for both countries to follow a lenient policy when arresting fishermen, as the crossing of the sea border in the fishing industry of the two countries may not happen intentionally.
Deputy Speaker – Ajith Rajapakse, Deputy Chairperson of Committees – Angajan Ramanathan, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, Members of Parliament Niroshan Perera, Mohomad Muzammil, Waruna Liyanage, Weerasumana Weerasinghe, M. Udayakumar, M. Rameshwaran, Jagath Samarawickrama, a group of officials including the Secretary General of Parliament Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera, Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General Mr. Chaminda Kularatne were part of the delegation.
Two suspects have been arrested on charges of money laundering and aiding and abetting money laundering, along with Rs. 5,745,000 in cash found in their possession.
The arrests were made as part of the ongoing island-wide crime and drug prevention operation initiated under the directives of the Acting IGP.
The two individuals were taken into custody near Thunmodara Junction in the Kirulapone Police Division after being observed acting suspiciously in a three-wheeler during a search.
They were brought to the Kirulapone Police Station, where further investigations were launched, police said.
According to police, the suspects – aged 49 and 39 – are residents of Siddhartha Road, Kirulapone.
One of the individuals is the owner of a LP gas shop in the area. Preliminary investigations have uncovered possible links between him and illegal drug trafficking activities.
One suspect has been formally arrested for money laundering, while the other has been charged with aiding and abetting the offense, police added.
Kirulapone Police are continuing investigations to determine whether the seized funds originated from narcotics-related activities or from the suspect’s business operations.
(adaderana.lk)
(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)
Three designated access routes have been announced for devotees attending the Sri Dalada Vandana (sacred pilgrimage) starting on the 18th.
The three entry routes to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic are as follows:
1. The queuing path set up from D.S. Senanayake Street (Trincomalee Street side) up to the entrance of the Sri Dalada Maligawa. 2. The queuing path starting from the Red Bridge area (Rathu Bokkuwa), passing along Sangharaja Mawatha (around the Kandy Lake), leading to the main entrance of the temple. 3. Another queuing path also starting from the Red Bridge area, going around the Maligawa premises by the Kandy Lake, and reaching the temple’s main entrance.
Devotees can use any of these designated paths to visit the temple for the upcoming Dalada Vandana.
(News1st)
(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by News1st has not been edited by SLM staff)
The suspect allegedly responsible for the recent shooting of the retired Superintendent of the Boossa Prison was arrested this morning (15) by officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) while attempting to leave the country through the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake.
The arrest was made at the departure terminal with the assistance of the “Face Recognition System” installed by the CID at the airport.
The suspect was reportedly apprehended while preparing to board SriLankan Airlines flight UL-404 to Bangkok, Thailand, using a forged passport.
The individual has been identified as Wijemuni Lalantha Prithiraj Kumara, 31, a resident of Kuleewatta, Ambalangoda.
He is reportedly the primary shooter and an associate of the organized criminal gang leader in the Southern Province known as “Karandeniya Sudda.”
The suspect was in possession of a fraudulent passport issued under the name Ekanayake Mudiyanselage Lakindu Sandeep Bandara.
He is also wanted by the police in connection with multiple murders and financial fraud cases in the Galle and Ambalangoda police divisions.
The arrest took place at approximately 7:50 a.m. today. He was later escorted out of the BIA premises by a team of officers, including the Officer-in-Charge of the Ambalangoda Police Headquarters, at around 10:00 a.m. today for further investigation.
(adaderana.lk)
(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)