A Chinese couple arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) were ordered to be remanded in connection with a large-scale pyramid scam of nearly Rs.15,000 million that defrauded many people of various status. The CID officials informed the court that the two suspects were arrested in connection with the extensive investigation conducted into the scam in which they have introduced a computer software called “Sports Chain” and defrauded the people who are connected to it. The suspects had organised conferences in major hotels in Colombo in order to lure people engaged in various professions. Upon inspection of the bank accounts of these suspects, State Counsel Hamsa Abeyratne told the court that Rs.1.4 billion has been circulated in the accounts and investigations are continuing to find the source of the funds. He said that the investigations into this incident are still in the preliminary stage and that during the interrogation of the main suspect Shamal Bandara, facts related to the two Chinese nationals were revealed through a WhatsApp message sent from his phone. The lawyers appearing for the suspects said that the facts regarding these suspects have not been reported to the court before. He said that the incident cannot be considered an offence but a work that falls under digital currency and that attention is being paid to legalise this in Sri Lanka soon. He informed the court that the suspect, who is the son of the biggest Chinese investor in Sri Lanka, has not committed such an offence. The CID told the court that they have received 70 complaints regarding the scam and that more suspects will be arrested in the future. Colombo Additional Magistrate Harshana Kekunawela imposed a travel ban on seven heads of the company called “Sport Chain Society Sri Lanka” for defrauding over Rs.8,000 million from a group of people who invested money in the pyramid scheme, and ordered the freezing of five of their bank accounts. Source – The Island
The new Crescent moon of the month of Ramadan has not been sighted in Sri Lanka this evening (22) and therefore Muslims in Sri Lanka will begin the month of Ramadan fasting from dawn on Friday (March 24), the Colombo Grand Mosque says. Muslims all over the world will observe a month of fasting and prayers during Ramadan to commemorate the time when the Quran was revealed to Prophet Mohammed on the night of “Laylat Al Qadr”.
Fasting during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, is considered to be one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that due to the public sector engaging in business activities, the money that was available for the construction of 100 projects similar to the Mahaweli during the past decades, has been destroyed.
He noted that in the future, the public sector will stop engaging in business and open it to the private sector to create a free and productive economy.
President Wickremesinghe mentioned this at the 71st commemoration ceremony of the late Prime Minister D.S. Senanayake at Independence Square today (22).
Recalling that Mr. D.S. Senanayake’s vision was to create a free economy, the President said that business should be done by the private sector and that the country could be developed with the tax revenue obtained from them.
However, due to the nationalization in 1956, the Government started engaging in business and that is why the tax revenue was inadequate for the development of the country, the President pointed out.
He stated that the country has distanced itself from Mr. D.S. Senanayake’s vision, but following his vision, Singapore has become a developed country today and said that despite our politicians dreaming of making Sri Lanka a Singapore, the destruction caused to Sri Lanka in the last 75 years due to the decisions of certain political movements is immense.
Therefore, the President further mentioned that Senanayake’s legacy should be carried forward to build a strong and powerful Sri Lanka.
President Wickremesinghe also laid floral tributes at the statue of the late D. S. Senanayake.
The Chief Incumbent of the Kollupitiya Polwatta Sri Dharmakeerthi Monastery Venerable Dr. Bandarawela Wimaladharma Thera delivered a special sermon.
Member of Parliament Vajira Abeywardena, Senior Advisor to the President on National Security and Chief of Staff to the President Mr Sagala Ratnayake, Senior Advisor to the President on Climate Change Mr Ruwan Wijayawardena, Former Speaker Mr Karu Jayasuriya, Former Ministers Ravi Karunanayake, Rohitha Bogollagama, Karunasena Kodithuwakku, Rukman Senanayake, former Colombo Mayor Rosy Senanayake, former Provincial Councilor Shantini Kongahage, Army Commander Lt. Gen. Vikum Liyanage and several others attended the event.