News
BIA drug bust: 25 monks including three masterminds arrested
Investigations conducted by the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) have revealed that three monks were involved in a large-scale, highly organised drug trafficking operation, using young bhikkhus from remote temple areas for their illegal operation.
The police said they had traced the masterminds behind narcotic smuggling by questioning 22 Buddhist monks arrested at the Katunayake International Airport yesterday (26) morning with a consignment of Kush and hashish with a street value of over Rs. 660 million.
Police said it was the largest-ever drug seizure at the Katunayake Airport, and the first instance of a group of monks being arrested there with a drug consignment.
The monks from various parts of Sri Lanka and reportedly pursuing higher education at different institutions are among those detained.
Police said three monks who allegedly organised drug smuggling have also been arrested.
The PNB recovered 101 kilos of Kush and 10 kilos of hashish from the suspects’ luggage. Investigators said one monk alone was carrying drug parcels weighing about five kilograms each.
According to investigations, the group left for Bangkok on 22 April. It is alleged that the three organisers recruited young monks from rural temples and organised the trip on the pretext of a religious visit to Thailand, while secretly facilitating drug trafficking.
Police further said that after arriving in Thailand, some of the monks had disrobed and engaged in leisure activities, including interacting with women, as revealed by checks on their mobile phones. The group is said to have spent three days in Bangkok before preparing to return to Sri Lanka.
Investigators said the monks had been given a parcel each by the organisers, who claimed they contained items such as sweets, chocolates, soap, shampoo, toothpaste and other supplies meant for temples in remote areas of Sri Lanka. They were instructed not to open the parcels.
Police said intelligence regarding the operation had been received in advance, prompting a special inspection at the airport.
Investigations have also revealed that the three alleged organisers had travelled to Thailand on multiple occasions.
The suspects and the seized drugs were handed over to the PNG headquarters.
DIG of the Police Narcotics Bureau, Ashoka Dharmasena, also visited Katunayake Airport yesterday morning to review the operation.
The group arrived at Katunayake Airport on an AirAsia flight (FD-140) leaving Bangkok at 10.10 pm on Saturday (25).
The suspects are due to be produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court for further proceedings.
By Hemantha Randunu
A specialists committee has been appointed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation adhering to the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers dated 29.12.2025 for submitting appropriate recommendations analyzing the provisions of the draft bill formulation in regard to Animal Welfare.
Based on the recommendations of the said Committee, the Legal Draftsman has been instructed at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held on 18.05.2026 to prepare the final bill on the animal welfare.
Wherefore, the Legal Draftsman has formulated the draft bill and the clearance of the Attorney General has been received in the connection.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation to publish the said draft bill in the
Government Gazette Notification and subsequently forward the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
Under the legal provisions for elections in this country since 2004, it is mandatory for voters who come to mark their votes to verify their identity through a valid identity card, and it is also mandatory for all such voters to be marked with an appropriate mark using indelible ink. The dual purpose of these two functions is to prevent a voter from voting more than once in a single election.
It has been observed that having to follow two different
methods at the same time to achieve the same objective hinders the efficiency of the duties performed at the polling stations and also incurs additional costs to the government.
Therefore, it has been deemed appropriate to remove the legal provisions regarding the use of indelible ink and marking the voter with the appropriate mark from all election acts.
Accordingly, the development activities of the province, as well as national security, will benefit. Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the
President to take necessary steps to remove the legal provisions
• Section 36 of the presidential Election Act, No 15 of 1981
• Section 38 of the Parliamentary Election Act, No 01 of 1981
• Section 36 of the Provincial Council Election Act, No 02 of 1988
• Section 53 A of the Local Government Elections Ordinance (262 Authority)
• Section 21 of the Referendum Act No 7 of 1981
News
Showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts
WEATHER FORECAST FOR 24 JUNE 2026
Issued at 05.30 a.m. on 24 June 2026 by the Department of Meteorology
Several spells of showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts. Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in the Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts after 2.00 p.m.
Fairly strong winds about (30-40) kmph can be expectedat times over the Western slopes of the central hills, the Northern, North-central, North-western and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee district.
The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.
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Animal Welfare Draft Bill to be Gazetted
Legal provisions on marking voters using indelible ink during elections removed
Showers will occur in the Western, Sabaragamuwa and North-western provinces and in Galle, Matara, Kandy and Nuwara-Eliya districts
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