News
Conman who cheated women out of millions of rupees arrested
By Norman Palihawadane
Galgamuwa police, on Sunday, nabbed a 48-year-old person for duping over dozen of Lankan women working in West Asian countries by promising to marry them and cheating them of out millions of rupees.
The suspect posed as an army officer.
Galgamuwa OIC Chief Inspector M. M. S. Pushpakumara said that they had received a complaint from a woman returning home from abroad on 11 March that her money and valuables had been taken away by her lover whom she came to know from Facebook and WhatsApp.
In her complaint she said that she and the suspect had been in love and he had promised to marry her on her return. She used to send him money to an account of a private bank for the construction of a house. On the day she returned, the suspect went to the airport and picked her up. Thereafter they went to a lodge at Meegashandiya to spend the night. The following morning she found that the man was missing with Rs 750,000 in cash, jewellery worth Rs 264,300, a mobile phone worth Rs 120,000 and some other valuables belonging to her.
CI Pushpakaumara said that his junior investigators found CCTV photos of the suspect withdrawing cash from ATMs and images of him and the victim woman drinking tea in the verandah of the lodge. When the investigators checked the bank account number details they found that it belonged to a 76-year-old person living in Galnewa. The man confessed that one of his friends helped him open a bank account but was not aware that the account was functioning and his friend was using his debit card. He confirmed the friend and the suspect in the photos were the same. Investigators then traced the whereabouts of the suspect, and found that he lived in a house at Walaswewa, in Nikaweratiya, and reared cattle, and earned a daily living by engaging in agricultural activities.
Following his arrest on Sunday and subsequent questioning, the police found information about 12 other women friends working abroad maintaining friendships with the suspect. He had obtained money from each of them by promising to marry them when they returned home. He had several debit cards but none in his name.
Police recovered the mobile phone, jewellery and Rs 650,000 cash taken away by the suspect from his latest victim.
The OIC said the raid had been carried out under the supervision of Nikaweratiya Division SSP Wasantha Jayamini Kumara, and Galagmuwa ASP SPJSK Rajapakshe. The raiding party included CI Priyantha Jayasiri, PS 29457 Senarath, PS 31163 Jayathilake, PS 383650 Rajapakshe, PS 75623 Herath and PC 95529 Semasinghe.
The suspect was produced before Galgamuwa Magistrate and remanded until 26 March.
The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri which arrived at the Port of Colombo on a formal visit on 04 Apr 25, departed the island today (07 Apr). The Sri Lanka Navy bade customary farewell to the departing ship at the Port of Colombo, following naval traditions.
During the ship’s stay in Colombo, crew members of INS Sahyadri took part in several programmes organized by the Sri Lanka Navy, aimed at enhancing mutual cooperation. In addition, they also explored some tourist attractions in the country. Further, personnel of Sri Lanka Navy had the opportunity to visit INS Sahyadri, gaining insights into her operational capabilities.
Latest News
Advisory for severe lightning issued for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district
The Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre has issued an Advisory for Severe Lightning for the Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district.
The advisory issued at 02.00 p.m. today [07 April 2025] is valid for the period until 11.00 p.m. 07 April 2025
The public are warned that thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning are likely to occur at several places in for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambantota district. 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.
The report of the “Census of Population and Housing 2024,” conducted by the Department of Census and Statistics, was officially handed over to President Anura Kumara Disanayake this morning (07) at the Presidential Secretariat.
This preliminary report has been prepared based on island wide data collected between October and December 2024.
The report provides details on Sri Lanka’s population, its growth and the distribution of the population across districts.
The information gathered through the census is vital not only for the government but also for other institutions in formulating policies and development plans essential for the country’s progress. Significantly, for the first time in the history of census-collecting in Sri Lanka, data collection was carried out using tablet computers and user-friendly mobile devices.
The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Finance & Planning, Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Mahinda Siriwardana, Director General of the Department of Census and Statistics D.D.G.A. Senevirathne and several other officials.
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