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Fugitive drug kingpin arrested after return from overseas

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A fugitive drug kingpin was taken into custody by Police on Wednesday (15) in Kotahena, following intelligence received by the Gampaha unit of the Western Province Intelligence Division that he was hiding in the area after returning from abroad.

The suspect is reportedly a close relative of the notorious drug trafficker known as ‘Pukudu Kanna’, and is identified as Kanapathi Ganesh, also known as Thotalanga Kanna. Authorities say that Pukudu Kanna is currently overseas.

The suspect had previously been charged before the Colombo High Court in 2014 for possessing and trafficking 39 grams of heroin in Elakanda. While on bail during the trial, he fled the country. In his absence, the court proceeded with the

trial and on Oct 10, sentenced him to life imprisonment.

After returning from India, Kanapathi Ganesh was reportedly residing in Kotahena. Acting on this information, a team led by Kotahena Police Superintendent and Chief Inspector Kosala, along with other officers, apprehended the suspect.

Police have also received information that the suspect is the husband of a major drug trafficker known as Thotalange Kumari.

by Norman Palihawadane and Hemantha Randunu ✍️



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Payment of Compensation to the people who have lost their cultivable lands in implementing the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project

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Approval has been granted at the Cabinet meeting held on 27-06-2012 to provide cultivable agricultural lands from the lower Uma Oya valley to 276 farming families in Hali-Ela, Walimada, and Uva Paranagama Divisional Secretariat Divisions who have lost their cultivable lands due to the acquisition of lands for the
Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project.

However, the aforementioned proposal could not be implemented due to the encroachment of a large portion of the identified lands by unauthorized persons, heavy forest cover, the threats posed by wild elephants, remoteness from their original settlements, and difficulties in adapting to other environmental conditions and social anomalies.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution furnished by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation to pay an estimated compensation of Rs. 12 lakhs for each of these 276 farming families, based on the
recommendations submitted by the Cabinet Sub-Committee appointed to provide solutions for the issues arising in the implementation of the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project.

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Draft Bill of the Chartered Institute of Media Professionals of Sri Lanka to be Gazzated

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Policy approval was granted at the Cabinet meeting held on 07.04.2025 to prepare a draft bill to establish the Chartered Institute of Media Professionals of Sri Lanka in order to accomplish the requirement of a training institution to carry out studies in order to create chartered media professionals and mould intelligent media personalities with skills in order to enhance the quality and standard of the media society.

Clearance of the Attorney General has been received for the final draft prepared by the Legal Draftsman for the purpose.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the resolution furnished by the Minister of Health and Mass Media to publish the draft bill of Chartered Institute of Media Professionals of Sri Lanka in the Government Gazette Notification and thereafter submit the same for the concurrence of the House.

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Telecommunication Levy Act No. 21 of 2011 to be amended

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The Telecommunication Levy Act No. 21 of 2011 has enabled provisions to impose telecommunication levy. The budget 2026 has proposed to introduce amendments for the act including changes imposed from time to time regarding the telecommunication levy.

Accordingly, the Legal Draftsman has formulated a draft bill for
amending the Telecommunication Levy Act No. 21 of 2011 including provisions to extend applicable to envisage all the tax amounts applicable from the year 2015 along with the telecommunication levy existing at present, applicable of taxes on unrecovered revenue (bad debts) and to extend the provisions of that act to cater the telecommunication suppliers.

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the  President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to publish the said draft bill in the Government Gazette Notification and subsequently to submit the same for the concurrence of the House.

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