News
Navy seizes more turmeric smuggled from India
Naval operations conducted at Norochcholai and on Wella Island in Kalpitiya on Aug 29 led to the recovery of about 1,428 kilos of dried turmeric smuggled into the country by sea.
The Navy apprehended two suspects with a stock of dried turmeric in 26 gunny bags in the Norochcholai area. A lorry and a car used by the suspects for the smuggling racket were also taken into custody.
Following interrogation of the two suspects, the Navy was able to apprehend four others with a dinghy which is believed to have been used to smuggle in the stock of turmeric, at Thoraiadi Pier in Kalpitiya.
Acting on information received from the four suspects, the Navy found 18 more sacks stuffed with dry turmeric which had been hidden at the Wella Island in Kalpitiya, after being smuggled into the country by sea.
The Navy found 294 kilos of dried turmeric in 12 sacks, hidden on the Ippantivu Island in Kalpitiya.
The entire operation led to the recovery of about 1,428 kilos of dried turmeric, a dinghy, a car and a lorry apart from the six suspects held by the Navy.
The suspects have been identified as residents of Kalpitiya and Kotiyakumbura areas, aged between 20 and 44.
The suspects along with the recovered items were handed over to the Kalpitiya Police for onward investigation.
The Navy has so far seized about 3,861 kilos of dried turmeric during naval operations in Thalvupadu, South Bar in Mannar, Nadukuda, Arippu, Talaimannar, Ettalai in Puttalam, Norochcholai and Kalpitiya from Aug 21.
The naval operations carried out from 28th July up to now have led to recovery of a staggering 12,270 kilos of dried turmeric smuggled into the country. Further, 25 suspects involved in turmeric rackets have also been nabbed during these operations.
Nearly 1,500 acres of land in the Galgamuwa Divisional Secretariat Division of the Kurunegala District, have been used by a number of private businesses for economic crop cultivation, mineral extraction, and excavation of soil.
Several environmental organizations had filed a petition before the Supreme Court requesting the suspention of the activities, stating that environmental damages have been caused due to the forest clearings carried out there and that the human-elephant conflict in the North Western Province has been aggravated.
In delivering its judgment regarding the said petition, the Supreme Court has ordered that the entire area, including residual forest parts, incorporating the extent of 55 hectares of lands cleared in that manner, should be declared as a sanctuary or an elephant management reserve under Section 2(2) of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance.
According to the said order, a joint survey conducted by the Survey Department and the Department of Wildlife Conservation has identified an extent of 682 hectares of land to
be declared as a wildlife sanctuary.
Accordingly, with the agreement of the Irrigation Department, the Cabinet has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Environment to declare the said land area of 682 hectares as the Naakolagane Sanctuary under the provisions of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance, incorporating the maximum water limit of the nearby Palukadawala Tank.
News
Cabinet approves transfer and maintenance of selected roads presently under PC’s and Local Authorities to the RDA
Considering the proposals forwarded by the District Coordination Committees, approval has been granted at the cabinet meeting held on 20-07-2026 to appoint a committee under the chairmanship of an Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development to take further steps and submit recommendations regarding taking over the roads that do not belong to the Road Development Authority and are currently maintained under Provincial Councils or Local Government Institutes.
Taking into account the recommendations submitted by the aforementioned committee, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development to take further steps for upgrading the said roads and to declare them as national highways, after examining fundamental qualifications, technical potential, and relevant criteria.
News
Obtaining financial facilities for the Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Program (Sub-program 2) from the ADB
The Cabinet has approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development to enter into an agreement with the Asian Development Bank to obtain the policy-based
financial facility of US$ 50 million provided by the Regular General Capital Resources and US$ 50 million provided by the Concessional General Capital Resources of the Asian Development Bank for the Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Program (Sub-program 2)
Declaration of Naakolagane Sanctuary under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance
Cabinet approves transfer and maintenance of selected roads presently under PC’s and Local Authorities to the RDA
Obtaining financial facilities for the Water Supply and Sanitation Improvement Program (Sub-program 2) from the ADB
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Imran Khan’s PTI braces to fight federal takeover of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
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