News
STF unveils new capability to combat crime
By. Norman Palihawadane
The Police Special Task Force has set up a special unit, named the Special Waterborne Operation Squad, to curb illegal activities in the country’s internal water bodies.
The new unit had been set up under the supervision of the Commandant of the STF, DIG Waruna Jayasundara, and a team of 16 officers had been selected for the purpose, Police spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana said on Monday (10). The officers have also been given two weeks of training by the experts from the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crimes and the Sri Lanka Powerboat Association, the STF said.
Public Security Minister Rear Admiral (Retd.) Dr. Sarath Weerasekara officially launched the squad on Sunday (09) at the Bolgoda lake. Inspector WGL Fernando will be the OIC of this unit. The main objective of the Special Task Force (STF) is to curb illegal activities taking place, on waters, such as drug trafficking, smuggling of goods, sand, timber smuggling, illegal gem mining and illicit liquor production.
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers has been granted at their meeting held on 19.05.2025 in order to introduce amendments to the Inland Revenue Act No. 24 of 2017 including the proposed tax revisions to enhance the tax structure paving way for state financial integrity based on revenue.
Accordingly, the revised draft bill has been prepared by the legal draftsman and clearance of the Attorney General has been received.
Therefore, the Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval for
the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Policy Planning and Economic Development to publish the aforementioned draft bill in the government gazette notification and subsequently, forward the same to the Parliament for its concurrence.
The National Mineral Policy was prepared for the first time in the year 1999, and the aforementioned policy has been amended in 2023 to cover matters such as preparing an updated data system related to mineral resources, adding value to the export of minerals, encouraging mineral-related industrialists, extracting mineral resources and managing the environment sustainably, and resolving the issues related to the ownership of the land arising in extracting mineral resources.
The revised National Mineral Policy has been reupdated in line with the manifesto “A Sustainable Resource Utilization – Generation of the Highest Benefit” under the policy statement of the current government” A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life.”
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution presented by the Minister of Industries and
Entrepreneurship to implement the so-formulated “National Mineral Policy—2026.”
The Gampaha High Court has sentenced Twelve (12) individuals to death over the 2022 murder of former Polonnaruwa District Member of Parliament Amarakeerthi Athukorala and his security officer.
Amendment of the Inland Revenue Act No. 24 of 2017
Cabinet nod for “National Mineral Policy” – 2026
Twelve sentenced to death by Gampaha High Court
Ten new buses with facilities for people with special needs
Ghosts of 2016 writ large as England, West Indies meet again
Amendment to the regulations for registration of Subscriber SIM Cards (Subscriber Identity Modules- SIM) and reregistration of subscriber information related to the SIM cards obtained before 02-08-2019
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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