News
TN Police bust gang raising funds for LTTE
The Tamil Nadu Police have blown the lid off an international network of former members or sympathisers of the defunct Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) allegedly involved in raising funds for reviving the movement, said a news report published by The Hindu.
The Hindu report filed from Chennai said: A Sri Lankan national, who was detained by the immigration authorities in Chennai recently and handed over to the ‘Q’ Branch-CID of the State police, revealed how the accused persons operating from European countries deployed operatives to draw huge money from dormant accounts using fake identities/documents, police sources told The Hindu on Thursday.
Mary Francisco, 51, a native of Sri Lanka, moved to Canada many years ago and became a permanent resident there. She was intercepted at the Chennai Airport as she was preparing to board a plane to Mumbai. The suspect was found to possess an Indian passport obtained with fake documents.
She told investigators of the State intelligence how huge money lying unclaimed in bank accounts were targeted by two former members or sympathisers of the LTTE based in Germany and Switzerland. The duo that was part of a larger network of sympathisers operating out of India, Canada, Singapore and Malaysia would facilitate withdrawal of the money by deploying agents with fake documents. The money would be transferred to different bank accounts in India and abroad in the names of companies or individuals and used for works of the “movement”, the sources quoted her as saying.
Acting on the instructions of the two accused persons, Ms. Francisco said she came to India a couple of years ago and moved into a rented premises at Anna Nagar in Chennai. With the help of the rental agreement and domestic LPG connection papers, she managed to open accounts in different banks. With the help of some agents, she obtained a PAN card, Aadhaar card, voter identity card and Indian passport, the sources said.
Francisco alleged she was connected to a few others and assigned the task of withdrawing several crores of rupees lying in a joint account held at Indian Overseas Bank’s Fort Branch in Mumbai. The two accused persons, whom she said were living in Denmark and Switzerland, had claimed that the money was raised for funding the activities of the LTTE, the sources said.
The woman and her two accomplices accessed the details of the original account- holders and forged documents to impersonate their identities. She even managed to activate the mobile phone linked to the account in her name. However, intelligence officials who were tracking the movement of the suspects alerted the immigration authorities and arrested Ms. Francisco when she was about to leave for Mumbai, the sources said, adding that the amount withdrawn illegally from various accounts by various persons who were part of the racket over the years was under investigation.
After the investigating agency found prima facie evidence to invoke provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, the National Investigation Agency, which has been investigating a similar case, took over the probe. In the first week of October 2021, the NIA arrested a senior intelligence operative, Satkunam alias Sabesan, 47, of the LTTE in Chennai.
It was alleged that the suspect, also a Sri Lankan national, had transferred a large amount of money to former members or sympathisers to revive the movement. The agency was tracking Satkunam on the basis of inputs that he was involved in the trafficking of arms and drugs from Pakistan to Sri Lanka and used the proceeds of the crime to fund former members of the organisation.
News
Prime Minister of Sri Lanka holds a bilateral meeting with Minister for Education and Skills Development of Bhutan
On the sidelines of the inaugural Global Conscious Food Systems Summit 2026, being held in Bhutan from 31 August to 4 September 2026, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, in her capacity as Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, held a productive bilateral meeting with Yeezang De Thapa, Minister for Education and Skills Development of Bhutan, on 03 September 2026.
The discussions focused on further strengthening and expanding Sri Lanka-Bhutan cooperation in the education sector, with particular emphasis on developing mutually beneficial initiatives through enhanced Government-to-Government engagement.
Both sides underscored the importance of deepening institutional cooperation and exploring new avenues for collaboration in education, higher education and vocational training, with a view to creating greater opportunities for students, educators and academic institutions of both countries.
During the meeting, both sides agreed to initiate discussions towards the finalization and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the fields of education and vocational training. It was also agreed that the implementation of the MoU could be facilitated through the establishment of a Joint Working Group, headed at the Secretary level, with meetings to be convened annually to review progress, identify new areas of cooperation, and facilitate the effective implementation of agreed activities.
The major areas of cooperation discussed included enhancing collaboration among universities and academic institutions, promoting academic and faculty exchanges, joint research and university programmes, strengthening training and capacity-building opportunities for educators and teachers, and sharing expertise and best practices in the education and vocational training sectors.
The two sides also discussed strengthening child protection and safeguarding mechanisms, promoting ethical values among students, and addressing violence against children while ensuring their safety, protection, well-being and access to quality education.
Opportunities for Bhutanese students to pursue undergraduate studies at universities in Sri Lanka were also discussed, with particular emphasis on Dentistry, Medicine (MBBS), and allied health disciplines such as Physiotherapy. The discussions further covered opportunities for postgraduate studies in medical and health sciences at Sri Lankan universities, as well as enhanced collaboration among universities and other academic institutions of the two countries.
The meeting provided a valuable opportunity for Sri Lanka and Bhutan to advance cooperation in education and vocational training and explore new avenues for long-term collaboration for the mutual benefit of students, educators and academic institutions of both countries.
(Prime Minister’s Media Division)
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya had an audience with His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck at the Tashichhodzong in Thimphu on September 02, during her official visit to the Kingdom of Bhutan.
The cordial discussion focused on Bhutan’s future development priorities and opportunities for cooperation between the two countries.
His Majesty expressed Bhutan’s interest in drawing on Sri Lanka’s experiences and expertise in areas relevant to its development plans. The discussion also focused on promoting investment between the two countries, including the possibility of establishing an investment zone in Bhutan.
The two sides also exchanged views on demographic challenges facing Bhutan, including the increasing migration of young people and its impact on the country’s population and future workforce.
The meeting highlighted the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation and sharing experiences and best practices in support of the sustainable development of both countries.
(Prime Minister’s Media Division)
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa has been arrested by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC).
Namal Rajapaksa had been summoned by CIABOC to provide a statement in connection with investigations into the controversial Airbus deal. He was subsequently arrested by CIABOC after recording his statement for over 5 hours.
Prime Minister of Sri Lanka holds a bilateral meeting with Minister for Education and Skills Development of Bhutan
Prime Minister Meets His Majesty the King of Bhutan
Kusal Mendis, Binura Fernando ruled out of T20I series in England
SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa arrested by CIABOC
Devapathiraja clinch U15 Division I title with 33-run win over Royal
Mandhana’s record ton powers India into semi-finals
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