News
Diplomatic efforts underway to bring back trawler and suspects
SL vessel intercepted with narcotics off the Maldives
The Maldives Coast Guard has seized a Lankan fishing vessel carrying a massive stock of narcotics, with a street value of over Rs. 3 billion. Five Lankan fishermen on board were arrested in what authorities believe to be one of the region’s largest recent drug interceptions.
Defence Ministry sources said that the operation had been conducted, based on intelligence shared by the Sri Lanka Navy. The vessel was found to be carrying approximately 300 kilos of heroin and an undisclosed quantity of crystal methamphetamine (also known as ICE).
Navy sources said intensified patrols in Lankan territorial waters had likely forced the traffickers to divert their route into Maldivian waters, where they were intercepted by Maldivian security forces.
The Navy confirmed that Maldivian authorities had formally informed them of the seizure and the arrests, though further details were yet to be officially released.
The Ministry of Public Security said diplomatic efforts are underway to repatriate the vessel and the suspects, while a team from the Police Narcotics Bureau was to be dispatched to the Maldives to assist in the investigations.
Preliminary inquiries have revealed that the heroin consignment originated from Pakistan and was intended for major Sri Lankan drug networks with overseas links. Security agencies suspect connections to large-scale traffickers, known by the aliases Parevi Suda and Bloemandhal Santha, both believed to be operating from overseas.
Authorities said the vessel had been disguised as a deep-sea fishing boat and was part of a wider transnational network using the Indian Ocean as a drug trafficking corridor.
by Norman Palihawadane ✍️
Members of the South Asian Journalists Forum have gathered at the University of New Delhi for a two day conference themed ‘Peace and Co-operation’.
Journalists from Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and India are attending the conference hosted by the University of Delhi in collaboration with the India Chapter of SJF, and will deliberate on how the media can act as a catalyst for regional stability and mutual coexsistence.
A tree plantation campaign was also held at the Ghandi Bhawan premises of the University to mark the event and symbolize growing regional ties.
The Sri Lanka delegation is led by President of SJF’s Sri Lanka Chapter Rahul Samantha Hettiarachchi.
The Governor of the of Gujarat, Acharya Devvrat, along with the Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat, Harsh Sanghvi, met with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on Thursdy [February 05] at the Parliamentary Complex to discuss the arrangements related to the exposition of the Devnimori Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha, which have been brought to Sri Lanka under the patronage of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Government of India.
These sacred relics of Lord Buddha were discovered during archaeological excavations conducted in the 1960s at the historic Devnimori site in Gujarat, the home state of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Until now, these relics had never been taken outside India. As a result of discussions held between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to Sri Lanka, the people of Sri Lanka have been granted this rare opportunity to venerate these sacred relics.
The exposition of the relics is being held for a period of seven days, from February 05 to February 11, at the Gangaramaya Temple in Hunupitiya, Colombo. Discussions were held between both parties regarding the arrangements related to this event.
The discussion was attended by Samar Nanda, Joint Secretary of the Indian Ministry of Culture; Dr. Satyanjal Pandey, Acting High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka; Abhijit Halder, Director General of the International Buddhist Confederation; along with several others.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
The Indian Naval Ship (INS) GHARIAL made a port call in Colombo for operational turnarounds on 04 Feb 26. The Sri Lanka Navy welcomed the visiting ship in compliance with naval traditions.
Commanded by Commander Gaurav Tewari, INS GHARIAL is a vessel with a length of 124.8 meters.
During this visit, ten (10) Bailey Bridges, brought by ship, through the coordination of the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka, will be handed over to the Disaster Management Center. These bridges will provide temporary transportation links while bridges damaged across the island by adverse weather conditions are repaired.
The crew’s itinerary features scheduled goodwill activities with the Sri Lanka Navy, alongside visits to several tourist attractions across the island.
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