News

Warrant not needed for Diana Gamage’s arrest, court tells CID

Published

2 months ago

February 9, 2023

editor

The Colombo Chief Magistrate has pointed out to the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) that a warrant will not be required for the arrest of State Minister Diana Gamage, if she has violated the Immigration and Emigration Act.

Last month, the CID was ordered to obtain a report from the British High Commission in Colombo on Gamage’s citizenship, and to conduct further investigations in this regard.

The relevant report was presented in court today (09 Feb.).

Appearing on behalf of the petitioner, President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsekularatne emphasised that in the event an average person of a non-political background committed such an offence, prompt legal action would have been taken against the said individual, however, no such emergence is being seen in this case owing to the fact that it concerns a State Minister.

Accordingly, the next hearing of the case was fixed for 02 March 2023 on the orders of Colombo Chief Magistrate Prasanna Alwis.

The State Minister currently is at the risk of losing her Parliamentary seat on account of allegations over her citizenship, after social activist Oshala Herath filed a complaint at the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) seeking an investigation into the issuance of a diplomatic passport to the State Minister by the Department of Immigration and Emigration.

Herath alleged that issuing a diplomatic passport to the State Minister is against the Immigration and Emigration Act since she also has British citizenship.

Source – adaderana

BIZ

Only 50 Dollars to go to India by passenger ferry!

Published

9 mins ago

March 27, 2023

editor

Sri Lanka will commence the operations of the passenger ferry service between Kankesanthurai and Pondicherry on April 29, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation said.

It said a passenger terminal is currently being constructed at the Kankesanthurai Port to facilitate the ferry service by the Sri Lanka Navy.

Ferry owners have mentioned during a recent discussion that they will be charging 50 US Dollars per passenger for a one-way trip, while allowing a passenger to carry baggage weighing 100kg.

A ferry is expected to carry 150 passengers at a time and will take around 4 hours to travel from Karaikal Port in Pondicherry to Kankesanthurai.

Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said that any businessman in India and Sri Lanka can join this passenger ferry service.

News

Uebert Angel brought in by Jerome Fernando involved in gold smuggling!

Published

14 mins ago

March 27, 2023

editor

It has been revealed that Zimbabwean pastor Uebert Angel, who was brought to Sri Lanka by ‘Born-Again’ religious sect leader Pastor Jerome Fernando, is involved in large-scale gold smuggling.

This was revealed during an investigation conducted by Al Jazeera News.

This pastor has also worked as a Zimbabwean diplomat.

The Zimbabwean pastor has participated in the services held at the Katunayake ‘Miracle Dome’ hall owned by Pastor Jerome Fernando on several occasions.

During his visit to Sri Lanka, the Zimbabwean pastor had met former presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa as well.

According to Al Jazeera, Uebert Angel has laundered millions of US dollars through gold smuggling.

Angel, appointed ambassador-at-large and a presidential envoy by Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa in March 2021, has told reporters he would be able to carry large volumes of dirty cash into the country using his diplomatic status.

The 44-year-old, who claims to be a prophet and heads a congregation — the Good News Church — with branches in 15 countries, said he would facilitate a scheme through which unaccounted cash could be exchanged for Zimbabwe’s gold.

Source – Aruna

News

Joint Combined Exchange Training with US Army concludes in Trincomalee

Published

20 hours ago

March 26, 2023

editor

The Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) Balance Style 01/2023 conducted by the Sri Lanka Navy and the U.S. Army came to an end at the Special Boat Squadron (SBS) Headquarters in Trincomalee over the weekend.

The certificate awarding ceremony was held under the patronage of Deputy Area Commander Eastern Naval Area, Commodore Mahesh De Silva on Saturday.

Thirty-six (36) Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) personnel from SBS (24) and 04th Fast Attack Flotilla (12) and nine (09) members of Special Force Operational Detachment Alpha participated in JCET 01/2023 training program from 27th February to 24th March 2023.

The Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) mainly focused on Mission Planning (MP), Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC), Close Quarter Battle (CQB), Combat Marksmanship & Sniper Training (CMST), etc. with the theoretical and practical sessions.

Commanding Officer 04th Fast Attack Flotilla, Captain Thusara Mahesh, Commanding Officer Special Boat Squadron, Commander Dharmasiri Herath, members from the SFODA – 1121 of the U.S. Army and a group of naval personnel were present on this occasion.

(sundaytimes)