News

Underworld gangster Kanjipani Imran’ fled to India

Published

2 years ago

January 1, 2023

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Notorious underworld gangster Mohamed Najim Mohamed Imran alias ‘Kanjipani’ Imran fled to Rameswaram in India’s Tamil Nadu State after he was released on bail by a court in Sri Lanka, the Hindu Newspaper reported.

Accordingly, the Tamil Nadu intelligence has sounded an alert to senior police officers across the State to mount vigil along the coastal districts and look for him and his associate who landed along the Ramanathapuram district coast on December 25, 2022.

It further was reported that Tamil Nadu State intelligence had specific input from central intelligence agencies and reliable sources that Imran was planning to enter India after his release on bail. According to sources, he left the court in disguise and moved to Thalaimannar from where his associates were making arrangements for his infiltration into India. Though there is no formal communication from Sri Lanka, an officer who did not want to be quoted told the Hindu that India’s intelligence agencies had received credible input on his movement and issued the alert.

Imran, wanted by the Sri Lankan authorities for various offenses, including murders and criminal intimidation, was arrested in Dubai in 2019 and deported to the Island Nation. He was in judicial custody till a local court granted him bail on payment of two sureties, each Rs.5 million.

The report pointed out that the entry of Imran into Tamil Nadu gains significance in the backdrop of the National Investigation Agency exposing an international drug cartel involving Sri Lankan nationals operating from the Special Camp in Tiruchi that houses foreign nationals facing criminal charges.

News

Seat belt compulsory for bus drivers from today

Published

39 minutes ago

July 1, 2025

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The National Transport Commission (NTC) has announced that starting today (July 01), it will be mandatory for all bus drivers to wear seat belts, with strict penalties for non-compliance.

Under the MotorTraffic Act, bus drivers are legally required to wear seat belts, but a rise in accidents due to drivers ignoring this rule has prompted the authorities to re-enforce it.

Police confirmed that action will be taken against drivers who fail to comply.

Seat belts to be made mandatory for all passengers in expressways

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transport has also stated that wearing seat belts will be made mandatory to all passengers of light vehicles travelling on expressways from August 01, 2025.

Meanwhile, wearing seat belts will also be mandatory to all passengers of all vehicles on expressways from September 01, 2025.

Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation Bimal Rathnayake also confirmed the directive while speaking to media this morning (July 01) during an inspection tour at the Colombo Central Bus Stand.

BIZ

End of parate relief for large SMEs

Published

48 minutes ago

July 1, 2025

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The grace period granted to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) under Sri Lanka’s Parate Execution Law officially ended midnight yesterday (June 30) for businesses with loans exceeding Rs. 50 million.

The Parate Law grants banks the authority to seize properties pledged as collateral without court proceedings. Although its implementation had been suspended for three months by the current administration—and for six months earlier under former President Ranil Wickremesinghe—it has now been reinstated, triggering serious concern among entrepreneurs.

Deputy Minister of Economic Development – Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando has stated that the government intends to hold discussions with all relevant parties in the coming days to address the issues linked to the law’s reimplementation.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader – Sajith Premadasa has warned that the re-implementation of the Parate Execution Law could lead to the rapid auctioning of assets from small, medium, and micro businesses, putting them at risk.

In a statement yesterday (June 30), he emphasized that these businesses contribute over 50% to Sri Lanka’s Gross Domestic Production (GDP) and employ over 04 million people.

News

Ex-SriLankan Airlines chief produced before court

Published

59 minutes ago

July 1, 2025

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Former Chairman of SriLankan Airlines – Nishantha Wickramasinghe has been produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court by prison officials today (July 01).

Wickramasinghe was arrested last week by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and is currently in remand custody,