News
Scandal-ridden PNB participates in major SLN-led operation involving int’l services
‘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.
The government, under heavy Opposition fire over inclusion of a sex website in the Grade 6 English module, as well as overall education reforms, has decided to put on hold reforms in respect of Grade 6.
Cabinet Spokesman and Media and Health Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the government decision yesterday (13) at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Information Department.
According to him, the decision had been taken at the previous day’s Cabinet meeting, chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Dr. Jayatissa said that education reforms pertaining to Garde 6 had been put on hold until 2027.
The Minister said that other proposed education reforms would be implemented as planned. The Minister said that action would be taken against those responsible for the inclusion of a link to a sex website following investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the National Education Institute.
The SJB and several other political parties, as well as civil society groups, have accused the government of promoting an LGBTQ agenda, through the proposed education reforms.
The Opposition grouping Mahajana Handa, on Monday, made representations to the Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatta Chapter regarding the controversial reforms, while urging their intervention to halt the project.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday (13) vowed to go ahead with his government’s agenda, regardless of the destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Emphasising the responsibility on the part of all to contribute to the post-Ditwah recovery efforts, President Dissanayake said that he would have complete faith in the public service.
The President said so at the launch of the re-building Sri Lanka project at the BMICH yesterday.
The JVP and NPP leader said that he wouldn’t take advantage of the death and destruction caused by the cyclone or use the situation as an excuse to reverse their agenda or weaken it.
President Dissanayake said that in spite of many calling for amending the then Budget, in view of the cyclone, the government presented the proposals that were agreed before the disaster struck.
The United States has announced that it will provide the Sri Lanka Air Force with 10 US Navy TH-57 helicopters free of charge.
The announcement was made by outgoing US Ambassador Julie Chung, who stated, on social media, that the helicopters would be transferred under the United States’ Excess Defence Articles programme. The aircraft are Bell 206 Sea Ranger helicopters previously operated by the US Navy.
US sources said that the transfer was intended to strengthen Sri Lanka’s disaster response capabilities, following the devastating cyclone that struck the island at the end of 2025 and killed more than 600 people. US officials have framed the move as a humanitarian measure aimed at improving aerial rescue and relief operations.
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