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Lankan man convicted of sexual assault and counterfeiting currency denied refugee status, must leave New Zealand

Published

3 years ago

2023/06/17

A Sri Lankan man convicted of sexual assault and counterfeiting currency has been denied refugee status in New Zealand.The man – who comes from a wealthy family – is afraid he will be “labelled as a criminal sex offender” if he returns to Sri Lanka.

He initially claimed he was bisexual, but when the man was questioned by the Refugee Status Unit he retracted that statement.The Immigration and Protection Tribunal found the man’s belief that he would be persecuted was not well founded and his appeal for refugee status was rejected.

The 33-year-old man also said he was afraid of retaliation after he was charged with attempted murder in 2013 for hitting a man with some timber while protecting one of his family’s 15 sawmills from a gang.

He spent 28 days in jail and was released after his family paid money to local authorities.He was threatened and, fearful of gang retaliation, the man said he “went into hiding” at a family home.In a bid to flee Sri Lanka for his “own safety”, he applied for a student visa in New Zealand in 2014.

Four years later, he was still in New Zealand on an essential skills work visa and was spending his time partying and using drugs.At one party, he sexually assaulted a woman while intoxicated. He was arrested and charged.

While out on bail, the partying continued. This time, he made and used counterfeit money to keep up the habit.In November 2019, the man was convicted of 18 counts of using forged documents and one count of theft (of a sum under $500).

He was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment, which was increased by an extra two years and eight months after he was also convicted of “unlawful sexual connection” with a woman aged over 16.

The man said his family in Sir Lanka was threatened and harassed because of his offending. They would not support him when he returned.The tribunal found there was no “real chance” of serious harm by the people who attacked one of his family’s sawmills.

It acknowledged that it may be hard for the man to go back to Sir Lanka after his offending in New Zealand but said there was “no right to be liked by everyone”.As to the lack of family support, the tribunal noted the man was 33 years old.

“He has lived independently of his family for many years and is not compelled to return to them in Sri Lanka.”

The man’s appeal was dismissed. He remains liable to be deported at the end of his sentence. – stuff.co.nz

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INS NIREEKSHAK makes port call in Colombo

Published

45 mins 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

3 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

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Six Foreign Envoys Present Credentials to President Dissanayake

Published

5 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.