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Scandal-ridden PNB participates in major SLN-led operation involving int’l services

Published

5 years ago

2021/01/5

Sahan Weerasooriya

‘ICE’, hashish worth Rs 600 mn seized

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB), which has been under investigation for dealing in narcotics, took part in a combined operation that led to the capture of a multi-day trawler carrying 100 kilos of Crystal Methamphetamine (ICE) and about 80 kilos of Hashish yesterday (4).

The Navy took four persons identified as residents of Thoduwawa in the Chilaw area into custody. The Navy headquarters estimated the street value of the contraband at Rs 600 mn. The narcotic substance had been concealed in nine sacks.

An authoritative military official told The Island the coordinated operation had been carried out with the assistance of intelligence services and PNB. The Air Force, too, backed the operation. The Air Force headquarters spokesman said that air assets had been deployed for surveillance of suspicious vessels.

According to the Navy official, the suspects had received the consignment in the Arabian Sea and they had been under constant surveillance till the interception in the seas off Negombo.

Following the disclosure that some PNB personnel were in league with drug barons, the police headquarters replaced both the DIG in charge of the specialised unit and its Director.

Responding to another query, the official said that investigators would certainly inquire into possible link between those arrested in the seas off Negombo and the persons arrested off Dodanduwa, Hikkaduwa on 31 Dec. 2020.

The trawler intercepted off Dodanduwa carried 5 kg and 945g of ICE, 2 kg and 47g of heroin and 03g of Kerala cannabis. The Navy took four persons into custody. The suspects, aged from 22 to 29 were identified as residents of Matara, Pottuvil, Negombo and Maskeliya areas.

The Navy headquarters said that anti-smuggling operations were being carried out adhering to Covid-19 preventive guidelines and the suspects, the consignment of drugs and multi-day fishing trawler held during the Negombo operation had been handed over to the PNB, Colombo for further action.

Attorney General Dappula de Livera, PC, intervened after an attempt was made to suppress the alleged involvement of PNB personnel in a massive narcotics ring. The AG called the then Acting IGP C.D. Wickremaratne for a hurriedly-summoned meeting where in the presence of the Defence Secretary Maj. Gen. Kamal Gunaratne and the then Chief of National Intelligence (CNI) Maj. Gen. Jagath Alwis instructions were issued to conduct a thorough investigation.

Subsequent investigations revealed how a section of the PNB sold heroin stocks in its custody and maintained direct links with the underworld here as well as international drug dealers. The PNB scam came to light following the arrest by Minuwangoda police of the brother of an aide to Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga in June 2020. The Minister later claimed that the arrest had been made by the police following his personal intervention.

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President meets senior officials of the Urban Development Authority

Published

5 hours ago

2026/05/18

Priyan

A discussion between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and senior officials of the Urban Development Authority (UDA) was held this afternoon (18) at the Presidential Secretariat.

The meeting focused extensively on new development projects planned by the Urban Development Authority. The President emphasised the need to ensure that the budgetary allocations made for these projects in the current year are utilised effectively within the same financial year.

Detailed discussions were also held on projects planned to be implemented jointly by multiple institutions, including the importance of holding consultations with all relevant agencies to reach final decisions and the need to clearly define responsibilities for each institution in both implementation and maintenance phases of the projects.

Attention was drawn to key initiatives such as the Kelani River flood control project, water management projects in Colombo city and the Beira Lake restoration project. The need for a dedicated programme for low-income housing in areas such as Ratmalana and Moratuwa was also highlighted. During the discussion, Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake underscored the importance of introducing a structured management framework for the effective coordination of certain projects.

Deputy Minister of Urban Development, Eranga Gunasekara, Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, Senior Professor Kapila C.K. Perera, Chairman of the Urban Development Authority (UDA), M.G. Hemachandra and the Heads representing the Urban Settlement Development Authority (USDA), Sri Lanka Land Development Corporation (SLLDC), National Physical Planning Department (NPPD) and the Condominium Management Authority (CMA) were also present at the meeting.

(PMD)

News

CEAT Kelani Branch Inter-Company Employees’ Union makes donation to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund

Published

5 hours ago

2026/05/18

Priyan

The Inter-Company Employees’ Union of the Kelaniya Branch of CEAT Sri Lanka has made a financial donation of Rs. 1,148,000.00, a day’s salary of its members to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund established to support the restoration of livelihoods and the rebuilding of areas affected by cyclone Ditwah.

Secretary of the Inter-Company Employees’ Union of the CEAT Kelani Branch, D.G.S.D. Navaratne, handed over the donation to the Chief of Staff to the President, Prabhath Chandrakeerthi at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (18).

Treasurer of the Inter-Company Employees’ Union of the CEAT Kelani Branch, Y.P.I.C. Karunathilaka, together with members of the Executive Committee, were also present on the occasion.

(PMD)

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Prime Minister off to the United Kingdom to participate in the 22nd Annual Commonwealth Education Forum

Published

6 hours ago

2026/05/18

Priyan

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya departed on an official visit to the United Kingdom to participate in the 22nd Annual Commonwealth Education Forum and the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) 2026 Board of Governors Meeting.

During the visit, the Prime Minister is scheduled to participate in several high-level academic and diplomatic engagements aimed at strengthening cooperation in the fields of education, development studies, research collaboration, and international partnerships.

As part of the visit, the Prime Minister will meet with Ms.Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education of the United Kingdom, at the UK Department for Education, to discuss areas of cooperation in education and related sectors. She is also expected to meet Ms.Yvette Cooper, Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, for discussions on matters of bilateral interest and cooperation between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom.

In addition, the Prime Minister is expected to meet Ms.Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, on the sidelines of the 22nd Annual Commonwealth Education Forum and the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) 2026 Board of Governors Meeting.

During the visit, the Prime Minister will attend a public event at the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex and she will also take part in the ceremony marking the 60th Anniversary of the Institute of Development Studies. The Prime Minister is also scheduled to address a session at the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies at the University of Oxford, followed by a question-and-answer session with scholars and students.

The visit is expected to strengthen Sri Lanka’s engagement with academic institutions, international development partners, and Commonwealth member states, particularly in the areas of education, research, policy dialogue, and capacity building.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]