News

Welikada police custodial death : BASL calls for immediate, impartial probe

Published

1 day ago

April 6, 2025

editor

Raising concerns over the recent death of a youth while in the custody of the Welikada Police, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) has called upon the Acting Inspector General of Police to ensure the conduct of an immediate and impartial investigation into the incident.

“In the early hours of 02nd April 2025 a youth died while in the custody of the Welikada Police, due to fatal injuries. It has been reported that the said injuries were self-inflicted and that the youth was not in a proper mental state. It is also reported that the youth was taken to the Mulleriyawa Hospital where he succumbed to the said injuries,” the statement said.

The BASL also criticized the slow response of authorities in taking meaningful action to prevent such incidents and urged the adoption of a zero-tolerance policy toward custodial deaths. It further pledged support for capacity-building measures within the Police Department to improve accountability and prevent abuse.

“The BASL will closely monitor the developments in this respect, and would take whatever measures that may be necessary to ensure due process is followed and that the rule of law is ensured,” it adds.

News

Heavy rainfall in some areas today

Published

48 minutes ago

April 7, 2025

editor

The Meteorology Department says that showers or thundershowers will occur today (April 07) at most places of the island during the afternoon or night.

Showers may occur in Western province and Galle and Matara districts in the morning too.

Heavy rainfall of above 100 mm is likely at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, Southern, Uva and North-central provinces and in Ampara District, the Met Department said.

Misty conditions can be expected at some places in Sabaragamuwa, Central, Uva and North-central provinces during the morning.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

News

Indian woman arrested at BIA with Rs. 65M cocaine haul

Published

11 hours ago

April 6, 2025

editor

An Indian woman has been arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) while attempting to smuggle a haul of cocaine with a street value of around Rs. 65,760,000 into the country.

The 29-year-old suspect, a chef from Mizoram, India, was arrested by the officers of the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB).

Preliminary investigations, which were conducted using her passport, revealed that she had previously visited Sri Lanka three times.

She had arrived at the BIA from Chennai, India, early this morning.

The arrest was based on intelligence information received by the PNB officers, and it is reported that a total of 1 kilogram and 644 grams of cocaine was hidden in the fake bottom of the suitcase she had brought, wrapped in polythene packaging.

Based on a disclosure made by the arrested Indian national, the local resident, who was preparing to accept the consignment of cocaine, was also arrested by PNB officers at around 1.30 p.m today.

He was apprehended while waiting near a hotel in Kollupitiya where the Indian woman was scheduled to stay while in Sri Lanka.

The local suspect is a 50-year-old businessman from Malabe.

The two suspects will be produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court and detained for further investigation and questioning.

(adaderana.lk)
(This story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)