News
Container declared as office furniture turns out to be Rs 435 bn worth of cigarettes
Customs officials took into custody a haul of foreign cigarettes worth over Rs 435 billion while they were being smuggled into the country at the Orugodawatta cargo inspection division.
The cigarettes were found inside a 20-foot container that had been brought into the country from the Jebel Ali port in the United Arab Emirates.
Customs spokesman Additional Customs Director General Sivali Arukgoda said that Customs officers found 2.5 million cigarettes in the container.
The Customs had received information that office furniture was being imported, and upon inspection, it was revealed that cigarettes had been smuggled in illegally.
Arukgoda stated that if these cigarettes had made it past Customs, a significant loss of over Rs. 378 million in duty revenue would have occurred.
Regarding the smuggling of these cigarettes, Arukgoda mentioned that, after taking a statement from a vape clerk, Customs officials are taking steps to apprehend the individual responsible for smuggling this illegal consignment of cigarettes into the country.
Under the supervision of Customs Director General Sarath Nonis, the Customs Revenue Department’s Director Tilak Suraviira, Senior Deputy Director Tissa Dahanayake, Deputy Customs Directors Upul Gonawala, S. Sandagopan, Akila Rupasinghe, Sandun Batagoda, Anushka Kure, and Rakhitha Ariyasena will conduct further investigations.
By Prabhath Withana
News
Establishment of an Institutional Framework to Inagurate Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority
Policy approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 08.06.2026 to establish the Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority for identification and
execution of a formal and long – lasting remedy to secure the central hills including the upper hydro catchment areas enabling them to sustain amidst extreme weather conditions
due to natural calamities and human activities as well as to be used for the sustainable development of the country.
Accordingly, a concept paper has been prepared including
institutional structure, activities, powers, active subject area as well as administrative and coordination mechanism for the proposed authority by an expert technical committee appointed by the Secretary to the President.
Based on the said concept paper, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the President to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a draft bill including legal provisions required for the establishment of Upper Hydro Catchment Areas Management Authority.
News
Introduction of Flora and Fauna (Regulation of actions of the Indigenous Community within the nominated areas) Regulations
With the objective of securing the traditional livelihood and the eco system of the indigenous community, it has been recognized the necessity of introducing a formal regulation methodology to secure their engagement in livelihood activities by being more sensitive to the existing laws.
Thereby, the Fauna and Flora (regularizing) regulations under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (Authority 469) have been prepared so that nominated activities within the prescribed area to a member of the indigenous community
who has been registered for securing the rights acquired from law or custom or usage or traditional stance to execute an act within a certain state land that is fundamental to the survival of the indigenous community permission can be granted
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Environment to publish the said regulations in the government gazette notification and thereby submit to the Parliament for its concurrence.
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M. M. D. J. Senarathne, appointed Director General of the Department of National Botanical Gardens
The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Environment to appoint M. M. D. J. Senarathne, who is the senior most officer in Grade I of Sri Lanka Scientific Service se
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M. M. D. J. Senarathne, appointed Director General of the Department of National Botanical Gardens
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