A special operation conducted by the Navy in Daluwa Beach area of Puttalam led to the apprehension of 02suspects with about 1236kg of smuggled Tendu leaves on 26th September 2023. The smuggled consignment of Tendu leaves has been prepared for distribution, when they were held by the Navy. Along with the suspects, the Navy also held a cab and a lorry from the location.

The Sri Lanka Navy conducts regular search operations and patrols in the coastal areas of the island, with a view to prevent the influx of smuggled and illegal items into the island.

As an extension of these efforts, SLNS Thambapanni in the Northwestern Naval Command made this apprehension during a search operation carried out in the dark hours of 26th September in Daluwa Beach area. The consignment of smuggled Tendu leaves was recovered upon searching a cab and a lorry at the beach on suspicion. The 40 packages loaded in the vehicles contained Tendu leaves weighing around 1236kg. Thus, the stock of smuggled Tendu leaves, 02 suspects and the vehicles were taken into the naval custody.

The suspects apprehended in this operation were identified as residents of Kalpitiya, aged 24. The suspects together with the stock of Tendu leaves and vehicles will be handed over to the Madurankuliya Police for onward legal action.

(navy.lk)

While Sri Lanka becomes one of the few countries in the world with free education and further expands free educational opportunities from the first-year to university, early childhood education will be made compulsory for all children who reach the age of four, Education Minister Susil Premajayantha said.

The government will intervene on behalf of children who cannot pay for it, and based on the need, early childhood development centres can be held in primary schools where space is available.

This will also be a solution for schools facing the challenge of closure, he said.

He also said that the most fundamental step to success in educational transformational reforms is the formal early childhood development of children in this country.

The Minister said this while attending a programme at ‘Suwa Diviyai Sathutu Sithai’ in Battaramulla for the school health promotion month.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has left for Germany on an official visit.

The President and the 12-member delegation left the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake early this morning.

President Wickremesinghe during the four-day visit is scheduled to hold discussions with several political and business leaders.

The President will hold talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on a number of topics.

Meanwhile, President Ranil Wickremesinghe is scheduled to make the opening remarks at the Leaders Dialogue session on the first day of the ‘Berlin Global Dialogue’.

The inaugural Berlin Global Dialogue is a German high-level global initiative to address current geopolitical and economic challenges.

During his absence, the responsibilities of the ministries falling under the purview of the President have been assigned to the respective state ministers.

Accordingly, the following state ministers have been appointed as acting ministers :

• Pramita Bandara Thennakoon – Acting Minister of Defense
• Shehan Semasinghe – Acting Minister of Finance
• Kanaka Herath – Acting Minister of Technology
• Anupa Paskuval – Acting Minister of Women, Children Affairs and Social Empowerment
• Ranjith Siambalapitiya – Acting Minister of Investment Promotion