The Central Bank (CBSL) yesterday announced that investigations had identified 24 companies and applications operating prohibited pyramid schemes.

In a public notice issued under Section 83C of the Banking Act, No. 30 of 1988 (as amended), the CBSL said the following entities had been “ascertained and determined as prohibited schemes”: Tiens Lanka Health Care (Pvt) Ltd, Best Life International (Pvt) Ltd, Mark–Wo International (Pvt) Ltd, V M L International (Pvt) Ltd, Global Lifestyle Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, Fast3Cycle International (Pvt) Ltd, Sport Chain App / Sport Chain ZS Society Sri Lanka, OnmaxDT, MTFE App / MTFE SL Group / MTFE Success Lanka / MTFE DSCC Group, Fastwin (Pvt) Ltd, Fruugo Online App / Fruugo Online (Pvt) Ltd, Ride to Three Freedom (Pvt) Ltd, Qnet / Questnet, Era Miracle (Pvt) Ltd and Genesis Business School, Ledger Block, Isimaga International (Pvt) Ltd, Beecoin App and Sunbird Foundation, Windex Trading, The Enrich Life (Pvt) Ltd, Smart Win Entrepreneur (Pvt) Ltd, Net Fore International (Pvt) Ltd / Netrrix, Pro Care (Pvt) Ltd and Shade of Procare (Pvt) Ltd, SGO / sgomine.com and I.C.A.N Advertising (Pvt) Ltd and its affiliates icanonlineadvertising.com, bannercuts.com, bannercuts.lk, bannercuts.net and bannercuts.org

The CBSL said pyramid schemes, also referred to as multi-level marketing or direct selling schemes in certain instances, operate as recruitment-based programmes in which members enlist others into an expanding “downline” structure resembling a chain letter.

Under such arrangements, a portion of the fees paid by new recruits is channelled upwards to earlier participants, known as the “upline”, who are fewer in number.

The Central Bank warned that such schemes are inherently unsustainable, with the vast majority of participants at the lower tiers eventually losing their investments, while only a small number of early entrants are able to recover or profit from the funds contributed by subsequent recruits. It noted that when a pyramid scheme collapses, up to 99 per cent of those in the lower levels risk losing their money.

Director of Communications for the Archdiocese of Colombo, Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando, yesterday expressed confidence that ongoing investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday terror attacks would yield meaningful results and urged the public and all stakeholders to exercise patience and allow the probe to proceed independently.

Addressing a media briefing in Colombo yesterday, Fr. Fernando called on all parties to refrain from interfering with the investigations, warning that any attempt to obstruct the process would amount to a grave injustice to the victims.

He said he believed there was credible evidence to warrant the arrest of military intelligence veteran Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Suresh Sallay.

Referring to the coordinated bombings on April 21, 2019, which targeted churches and hotels and claimed nearly 300 lives, Fr. Fernando described the attacks as a “barbaric” act and a “massacre” that killed worshippers attending Easter services as well as individuals from different religious and ethnic communities.

By Norman Palihawadane

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has decided to intensify its ongoing trade union action by withdrawing from participation in “Arogya Clinics” from next Monday (02).The association has been engaged in trade union action for over a month, calling for solutions to issues affecting medical officers.

Accordingly, the decision not to take part in the “Arogya Clinics” was taken by the GMOA’s Central Committee on the 25th, its committee member Dr. Prasad Colombage told The Island yesterday (26).

Dr. Colombage alleged that the government had launched around 50 Arogya Clinics countrywide based on political considerations, in addition to operating mobile clinics.

He further charged that neither the Minister of Health nor the government had so far made a meaningful intervention in response to the GMOA’s demands for solutions to the problems faced by government medical officers as well as issues in the health sector.

by Sujeewa Thathsara