A man was hospitalised after Police opened fire at the Gala Junction, in Kiribathgoda, after being shot by the police during the early hours of yesterday (11).

The shooting occurred around 2:30 a.m. when Police on patrol approached a suspicious individual near a motorcycle.

The suspect allegedly attempted to flee, prompting an officer to open fire. The injured man was admitted to Ragama Hospital, while investigations are ongoing.

By Norman Palihawadane

Value Added Tax (Amendment) Act came into effect after Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne endorsed the certificate on the Bill in Parliament yesterday, Parliament sources said

 The second reading debate, related to the Bill, was held on 09.04.2025, and amendments were added to the sad Bill during the Committee Stage. The Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill was then passed in Parliament, following its Third Reading, without a division.

This Bill was presented to Parliament for its First Reading on 01.03.2025.This Bill comes into force as the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Act, No. 04 of 2025.

A consignment of foreign-manufactured cigarettes worth Rs. 2.25 million was taken into custody early yesterday morning (11) at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake by a team of Customs officers.

The suspect, a 29-year-old businessman, was from Gampaha.He had arrived at the BIA from Dubai on SriLankan Airlines flight UL-226 around 5:00 am.

Upon inspection of his luggage, Customs officials discovered 75 cartons, containing a total of 15,000 foreign cigarettes, which he had attempted to bring into the country without declaring.

Customs officers at Katunayake Airport have taken the suspect into custody and are conducting further investigations into the incident.

By T.K.G. Kapila