News
Turmeric smuggling intensified as shortage worsens
By Shamindra Ferdinando
A severe shortage of turmeric, an essential ingredient in Sri Lankan cuisine has led to stepped up efforts to smuggle in large consignments from neighbouring India.
Police headquarters spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana yesterday (27) said that police commandos had taken into custody a trawler loaded with nearly 20,000 kilos of turmeric at Kalamatiya, Gurupokuna in the Hungama police area. Commandos also arrested four persons during the raid.
DIG Rohana said that the STF and the Hungama police had initiated an inquiry.
The government recently banned the importation of a range of spices, including pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace and cardamom and turmeric.
DIG Rohana said yesterday’s detection made around 3 am, was the single biggest since the issuance of a special gazette banning import of turmeric.
In spite of naval patrols and on and off detections, smugglers continued to bring in large consignments of turmeric in view of the growing demand. A kilo of turmeric fetches as much Rs 7,000.
DIG Rohana said that the raiding party also took into custody two lorries which were to be used to move part of the turmeric stock.
Since the government imposed a ban on spices as part of wider restrictions on imports to save foreign exchange several weeks ago in the wake of rapid deterioration of the economic situation due to Covid-19 epidemic, the Navy carried out a series of detections. According to the Navy headquarters, patrols had recovered 3538 kilos of dried turmeric.
In spite of continuing shortage resulting in sharp increase in prices, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has said his government would not go back on its decision to stop import of turmeric. Addressing a Cabinet sub-committee on Cost of Living recently, the President said even though the public faced difficulties for a short period of time, steps taken to strengthen the rural economy and uplift the farming community couldn’t be reversed. To control Rupee’s parity against other currencies and to get rid of high debt burden on farmers, imports should be restricted, a statement issued by the President’s Office quoted Gotabaya Rajapaksa as having said.
By Norman Palihawadane
Authorities have launched an investigation into the disappearance of over 70 assault rifles from an undisclosed Army camp.The police confirmed that two of the missing T-56 assault rifles had been recovered.
A 47-year-old Civil Defence Force (CDF) member has been arrested in connection with the incident. Acting on information from the suspect, police recovered a T-56 with 11 rounds of ammunition in Kotawila, Matara, on Friday. The arrest followed an earlier recovery of another T-56 rifle and a grenade in Ruhunuketha, Welikanda, which the suspect was allegedly attempting to sell.
Investigations have revealed that the suspect had sold one more T-56, with ammunition, for Rs. 200,000. The CDF member’s arrest came after a person, detained by the Wellampitiya Police with a pistol, confessed to purchasing the weapon from him, providing contact details that led to his arrest.
The Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) obtained a 90-day detention order for further questioning of the suspect.
Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasuriya confirmed to The Island that details of the Army camp and officers involved were being withheld for now.
Police Media Spokesman SSP Buddhika Manatunga said that the CCD and CID were conducting parallel investigations into the case.
Further updates on the missing firearms and their potential links to crimes are expected as the investigation progresses, SSP Manatunga told The Island.
More than 35 people were hospitalised following a head-on collision between two privately-owned buses in Matara yesterday morning.Six persons sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the Matara Hospital, police added.
Police Spokesman SSP K.B. Manathunga said that there was a rising number of road accidents involving privately-owned buses in recent times. In response, police have intensified legal actions against passenger bus drivers who violate traffic regulations.
SSP Manathunga announced on Saturday that the government has approved the recruitment of an additional 10,000 police officers. This move aims to strengthen efforts in preventing road accidents, as well as supporting broader anti-crime and anti-drug operations.
Investigations into the cause of the collision are ongoing, SSP Manatunga said. (RK)
Text and Pic by Dinasena Rathugamage
A 25-year-old elephant that had been struggling in pain and hunger for 14 days due to suspected severe gunshot injuries died on Saturday near the Iranamadukulam tank in Kilinochchi.
Villagers who noticed the injured elephant informed Wildlife officers about its condition. Although a team of officials rushed to the location and attempted to treat the elephant, its condition was critical due to severe injuries and its extreme weakness, making recovery impossible.
Wildlife officers said that the elephant was about 25 years of age and they suspected that the elephant’s injuries had been caused by a gunshot. A post-mortem examination is scheduled to determine the exact cause of death. The Kilinochchi Police and Wildlife officials have launched an investigation into the death of the elephant.
Rainy condition is expected to continue further in Northern, North-central, Eastern,Uva and Central provinces
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