News

Soldier in uniform, deserter arrested with 45 kilos of heroin

Published

5 years ago

2021/02/26

Sahan Weerasooriya

Probe on Army vehicles being used to move narcotics

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Army Commander Gen. Shavendra Silva has ordered a thorough investigation after the police Wednesday (24) night arrested two heroin couriers-––a serving soldier and a military deserter ––in the Horana police area.

Gen. Silva, who is also the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), has assured the police of their full cooperation, in addition to an internal probe into the high profile arrest of the soldier attached to Dambulla Army camp and a person who deserted the Army two months ago. The deserter was identified as a Lance Corporal.

Police spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana and Military spokesman Brig. Nilantha Premaratne yesterday (25) briefed the media at police headquarters of the operation conducted by the Panadura based Anti-Vice Strike Force following information received from the public.

The raiding party detained the two suspects along with a vehicle carrying 45 kgs and 376 grammes of heroin. Under interrogation, the suspects have revealed they received the contraband near Imaduwa entry point to the Southern Expressway and exited at Gelanigama. The police made the Horana detection close on the heels of the recovery of 200 grammes of heroin near the Angunakolapelessa entry/exit point.

DIG Rohana said that they believe the heroin was being taken to Tissamaharama from Weligama. “We are probing the possibility of Weligama being the centre of a major drug distribution cartel,” DIG Rohana said.

Previously no Lankan soldiers had been arrested with such a large consignment of heroin.

The media was told how the vehicle rented by the Army for its use ended up being used to transport drugs. At the time of the arrest the solder, a resident of Polonnaruwa who was the driver of the vehicle had been in uniform, the spokesmen said, alleging the arrested persons worked for two major heroin distributors based in Dubai or some other country. The deserter was in civilian clothes.

They identified one of the operators as Ruwan Chintaka of Midigama, Weligama. In addition to those drug dealers out of the country, the media was told of the alleged involvement of a 24-year-old person wanted in connection with a killing, in the Horana drug recovery.

DIG Rohana alleged that Chintaka was a close associate of notorious criminal Angoda Lokka whose death in India due to poisoning was confirmed by the Indian police recently.

The police spokesman said that new heroin dealers had emerged in the wake of the arrest of 14 major distributors and the recovery of 1,610 kgs of heroin during 2020.

The police would seek permission from the court to detain the suspects for seven days. They were to be produced in the Horana Magistrate’s court, the DIG said.

He said that Sri Lanka had obtained Interpol ‘Red Notice’ on 24 persons, mostly drug dealers. One of them died recently.

Wednesday’s arrest of soldiers involved in the heroin trade took place amidst the ongoing investigations into some members of the elite Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) dealing in narcotics. Over a dozen of its personnel are in remand pending investigations.

During yesterday’s briefing DIG Rohana asserted that the arrested soldier and the deserter had been middlemen and investigations were underway to ascertain their involvement.

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Advisory for Severe Lightning issued to the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and Galle and Matara districts

Published

6 hours ago

2026/03/12

Priyan

Advisory for Severe Lightning Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre at 12.30 noon 12 March 2026 valid for the period until 11.00 p.m. 12 March 2026

Thundershowers accompanied with severe lightning are likely to occur at some places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces and in Galle and Matara districts after 2.00 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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Nasa spacecraft weighing 1,300lb due to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere

Published

7 hours ago

2026/03/12

Priyan

The two Van Allen Probes were launched in 2012 [BBC]

A Van Allen Probe spacecraft weighing more than 1,300lb (600kg) is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere almost 14 years after its launch, Nasa says.

The spacecraft is projected to re-enter around 19:45 EDT (23:45 GMT) on Tuesday the US Space Force predicted, according to Nasa, though there is a 24-hour margin of “uncertainty” in the timing.

The Van Allen Probe A, which launched in 2012, is expected mostly to burn up as it travels through the atmosphere, though some components may survive.

The space agency said there is a one in 4,200 chance of being harmed by a piece of the probe, which it characterised as “low” risk.

The spacecraft and its twin, Van Allen Probe B, were on a mission to gather unprecedented data on Earth’s two permanent radiation belts.

It was not immediately clear where in Earth’s atmosphere the satellite is projected to re-enter. The BBC has contacted Nasa for further detail.

Nasa and the US Space Force have said they will monitor the re-entry and update any predictions.

The mission, which was originally designed to last two years, went on for almost seven. It ended after the spacecrafts ran out of fuel and were no longer able to orient themselves toward the Sun.

The probes flew through rings of charged particles trapped by Earth’s magnetic field from 2012 to 2019, in order to study how particles were gained and lost, per Nasa.

Those rings, called the Van Allen belts, shield Earth from cosmic radiation, solar storms and streaming solar wind, which are harmful to humans and can damage technology.

The mission made significant discoveries, including the first data that show the existence of a transient third radiation belt, which can form during times of intense solar activity, Nasa said.

Van Allen Probe B is not expected to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere before 2030.

[BBC]

News

PM Visits the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)

Published

8 hours ago

2026/03/12

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya visited the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines, on 11 March 2026, and held bilateral discussions with Yvonne Pinto, Director General of IRRI, focusing on strengthening cooperation in the field of rice research and sustainable agricultural development.

During the meeting, discussions centered on rice cultivation in Sri Lanka, including the key challenges faced by Sri Lankan paddy farmers. The Prime Minister highlighted issues affecting the sector such as productivity constraints, climate-related impacts, and the need to support farmers through improved agricultural practices and technological innovations.

Both sides also discussed the importance of introducing modern techniques and research-driven approaches to rice cultivation in order to enhance productivity and ensure long-term food security. In this regard, IRRI shared insights on ongoing global research initiatives aimed at improving rice varieties, strengthening climate resilience, and promoting sustainable farming practices.

The discussion further focused on the potential for expanded collaboration between Sri Lanka and IRRI, particularly in areas such as research partnerships, knowledge sharing, and capacity building for Sri Lankan agricultural institutions and farmers. The Prime Minister emphasized Sri Lanka’s interest in strengthening cooperation with IRRI to support the development of the country’s rice sector and to improve the livelihoods of paddy farmers.

The visit reaffirmed the importance of science-based agricultural innovation and international collaboration in addressing food security challenges and enhancing sustainable rice production in Sri Lanka.