A suspect has been arrested with a T-56 assault rifle, two magazines and 45 rounds of ammunition in an operation carried out by the Ampara Division Criminal Investigation Unit.

The arrest was made in the Saadamulla area within the Batapola Police Division in Elpitiya, on a tip-off received by the Senior DIG in charge of the Eastern Province, Waruna Jayasundara.

Police identified the suspect as a 45-year-old resident of Namal Uyana, Saadamulla.

According to police, the suspect is a close associate of an underworld figure, and further investigations have revealed that the firearm was allegedly intended to be used in several planned murders.

Batapola Police are continuing investigations into the incident.

The Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development has said the Industrial Disaster Support Centre (IDSC) has recorded 18,321 entries and inquiries as of yesterday (15 December) from industries affected by the recent disasters.

According to the Ministry, 6,362 industries in the Ministry of Industries’ production sector have been affected along with 7,510 micro-enterprises, 6,256 small-scale enterprises, 3,998 medium-scale enterprises and 557 large-scale enterprises.

A dedicated hotline, 071 266 6660, has been introduced to notify affected industries, and industry owners have been requested to submit relevant information to the system at the earliest.

Data submissions must be completed before 2.00 pm today (16 December). Information can be submitted online via the Ministry’s official website.

Affected parties may also seek assistance from officers of the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development stationed at Divisional and District Secretariat offices.

The Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (CERT) has urged the public to remain on high alert following a sharp increase in online scams and embezzlement attempts reported across social media platforms in recent weeks.

Sri Lanka CERT has said the spike in fraudulent activity coincides with the festive season and the prevailing climate-related disaster situation, which cybercriminals are exploiting to target vulnerable members of the public.

Full text of CERT statement:

The Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (Sri Lanka CERT) urges the public to remain extremely vigilant as a surge in online scams and embezzlement attempts has been observed across social media platforms in recent weeks. These incidents coincide with the festive season and the ongoing Climate related disaster situation, creating opportunities for cybercriminals to exploit public trust and vulnerability.

Sri Lanka CERT has received a significant number of complaints regarding fraudulent schemes where scammers impersonate government institutions, public service departments, reputed supermarkets, and well-known business entities. These actors circulate fake promotional offers, financial rewards, and prize announcements to mislead unsuspecting individuals.

In the aftermath of the recent cyclone and severe rains that caused widespread damage in several parts of the country, cybercriminals have also fraudulently replicated the names of government agencies and organizations involved in relief and recovery efforts. They distribute deceptive links and persuade the public to donate money through these channels, resulting in many victims losing funds directly from their bank accounts.

Sri Lanka CERT strongly reminds the public not to click on suspicious links, not to share personal information on untrusted channels, or One-Time Passwords (OTPs) with unknown individuals or unverified websites. Legitimate government institutions and established organizations do not request such  sensitive information via unsolicited messages, social media posts, or online links.

We call on  the public to exercise heightened caution during this period and verify the authenticity of any message, fundraising request, or financial offer they receive. Any suspicious activity can be reported to Sri Lanka CERT through our hotline or official channels.

Stay alert. Stay safe. Protect your digital identity.