News

Four SL stowaways nabbed aboard container vessel sent back

Published

3 years ago

2023/04/12

Sahan Weerasooriya

MV CMA CGM PANAMA

By Norman Palihawadane

Four Lankan stowaways caught while travelling in a cargo ship conveying apparel exports to Europe from Sri Lanka had been handed over to the Sri Lankan authorities, police said.

The suspects sneaked into the MV CMA CGM PANAMA container ship while it was at Colombo Harbour last month. They were discovered by the captain of the ship at the Suez Canal security checkpoint in Egypt.

The stowaways were returned to Sri Lanka on another ship of the same shipping company.

They were handed over by the ship’s authorities to the officials of the Immigration Department at the Galle Port on Monday (10) evening.

The four youth aged 25, 31, 32 and 32, are residents of Jaffna and Mullaitivu.

Immigration Department officials handed over the youths to the Galle Port Police. They were later transferred to the CID yesterday (11). Action will be taken not only against them but also against the people who aided and abetted them, the police said.

The suspects divulged that they had sneaked into the container ship when it was at the Colombo Harbour on March 24. The ship left the port of Colombo on March 25 and commenced its journey to Europe.

When the ship was entering the Suez Canal in Egypt, it was discovered that there were four stowaways in the ship who were not known to the captain or the other staff of the ship.

The captain then informed his parent company about the discovery and according to their instructions , on March 28 these persons have been handed over to the MV Jackson Bay ship belonging to the same company sailing towards Sri Lanka.

They kept the four Sri Lankan youths in a special cell and brought them to the international waters near the Galle port under strict security.

After the officials of the Galle Port Immigration and Emigration Department, were informed, a team of officials of Sri Lanka Navy, Sri Lanka Police and Sri Lanka Port Authority approached the MV Jackson Bay traveling on the international waters and the four men were handed over to the custody of Sri Lankan authorities on Monday evening.

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INS NIREEKSHAK makes port call in Colombo

Published

3 hours ago

2026/04/21

Priyan

The Indian Navy Ship (INS) NIREEKSHAK arrived in Sri Lanka for Operational Turnaround (OTR) and a training visit on 21 Apr 26.

The Sri Lanka Navy welcomed the visiting ship at the port of Colombo in accordance with time-honoured naval traditions.

Commanded by, Commander Sailesh Kumar Tyagi, this Diving Support Vessel is set to conduct a training programme with the diving professionals of the Sri Lanka Navy.

The crew is also scheduled to participate in several activities organized by the Sri Lanka Navy and visit some tourist attractions within the country.

Latest News

Advisory for Severe Lightning issued to the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, North-central, Southern, Uva provinces, and Mannar, Vavuniya, Ampara, Batticaloa districts

Published

6 hours ago

2026/04/21

Priyan

Advisory for Severe Lightning
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 12.00 noon 21 April 2026 valid for the period until 11.30 p.m. 21 April 2026

Thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North-western, Northcentral, Southern, Uva provinces, and in Mannar, Vavuniya, Ampara, Batticaloa districts after 1.00 p.m.

There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.

ACTION REQUIRED:

The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
 Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
 Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
 Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
 Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
 Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
 For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities

Latest News

Six Foreign Envoys Present Credentials to President Dissanayake

Published

8 hours ago

2026/04/21

Priyan

Two High Commissioners, three Ambassadors and an Apostolic Nuncio-designate of the Holy See presented their credentials to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (20).

The ceremony, held at 10.00 a.m., followed the formal order of precedence, with the envoys representing Papua New Guinea, Somalia, Luxembourg, the Holy See, Pakistan and Kuwait.

Accordingly, diplomats who presented their credentials were:

01. Vincent Sumale, High Commissioner-designate of Papua New Guinea (Based in New Delhi)

02. Abdullahi Mohammed Odowa, Ambassador-designate of Somalia (Based in New Delhi)

03. Christian Biever, Ambassador-designate of Luxembourg (Based in New Delhi)

04. Monsignor Andrzej Józwowicz, Apostolic Nuncio-designate of the Holy See

05. Major General (Retd) Nayyar Naseer, High Commissioner-designate of Pakistan

06. Saleh Mubarak Al-Sarawi, Ambassador-designate of Kuwait

Following the presentation of credentials, the President engaged in a cordial discussion with them. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath, and the Secretary to the President, Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, were also in attendance.