Category: Breaking News

The NIA has taken over the probe into the seizure of AK-47 rifles and ammunition along with Rs 3,000 crore worth of heroin from a Sri Lankan vessel on March 25.

The agency has registered an FIR against six Sri Lankan nationals. NIA sources said the agency will be probing the recovery of rifles and ammunition while the seizure of heroin will be probed by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).

“After the seizure of 301kg of heroin from the boat, Ravihansi, NCB had started a probe. They later reported to the state police regarding the recovery of five AK-47 rifles and 1,000 9mm bullets from the boat. Based on this, Kerala Police filed an FIR at Vizhinjam station on April 5. As the case has international ramifications and is of serious nature, NIA decided to take over the probe. An FIR has been submitted at the NIA court in Kochi,” a source said.

The accused persons in the case are Sri Lankan nationals — L Y Nandana, 46, of Nakulugamuwa; H K G B Janakadassppriya, 42, of Nakulugamuwa; A H S Mendis Gunasekara, 33, of Dondanduwa; Thilanka Madushan Ransingha, 29, of Dondanduwa; and Dadallage Nisanka, 40, of Rathgama. The case has been registered under Section 7 of the Arms Act for possession and acquisition of prohibited arms and ammunition. NIA Inspector Ebinson Franco is probing the case.

“The seized AK-47 rifles and ammunition will be received from Kerala Police soon. The boat is currently at Vizhinjam Coastal police station. We have not yet produced the accused persons before the court. We have to take them into custody for interrogation. Due to Covid-19, the initial procedures are facing a delay. Once the NIA court opens after lockdown, we will a file petition for the production of the accused persons and later their custody will be sought,” an official said.

The boat was intercepted by the Indian Coast Guard around 225 kilometres off Vizhinjam coast.

The heroin was found concealed inside the water tank of the vessel in 301 packets bearing the image of a flying horse, a common branding practice of drug trafficking syndicates. During interrogation, the arrested persons revealed that an unknown vessel carried the consignment from Chabahar Port in Iran, and handed over the same to Sri Lankan fishing boat Ravihansi in the high seas near Lakshadweep.

(The New Indian Express)

Visas of tourists and foreigners resident in Sri Lanka will be extended for 60 days without penalty, the immigration office, which is cutting down services as part of efforts to contain Coronavirus surge said.

The validity of all categories of visas issued to foreigners are automatically extended from May 11 to July 09, the Controller General of Sri Lanka’s Department of Immigration and Emigration said.

Holders of tourist visa can go to the link https://eservices.immigration.gov.lk/vs and pay the relevant ree before July 09, 2021, without a penalty.

Those leave the country within during the period can pay the visa fee at the airport.

They can also visit the immigration office in Bataramulla before 09 July and get the endorsement and pay the vista.

Resident visas area also extended till July 09.

During the period they could contact 0707101050 from 0830 to 1500hours to get an appointment to visit the head office and get the visa endorsed.

Passports will be issued to Sri Lankans in case of an emergency from Battaramulla head office and regional offices in Kandy, Vavuniya, Matara and Kurunegala.

Contact numbers

Travel Division – Battaramulla Head Office — 0707101060, 0707101070

Citizenship Division – Battaramulla — 07071001030

Visa Division – Battaramulla – 0707101050

Ports Branch – Battaramulla – 0777782505

Matara Regional Office – 041-5412212, 041-5104444

Vavuniya Regional Office — 02505676344, 025-567-6345

Kurunegala Regional Office — 037-555-0562, 037-555-0563

Kandy Regional Office – 081-562-4509, 081-562-447-

General information: www.immigration.gov.lk

Airline passengers or transit passengers from Sri Lanka will not be permitted to leave for Dubai, Kuwait, Italy, Maldives and Singapore until May 31, according to Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited.

This was announced today by its Vice Chairman, Mr Rajeewasiri Sooriyaarachchi.

The UAE has announced a suspension of entry for travellers from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka with effect from Wednesday in a bid to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

After the UAE, Kuwait has also announced the suspension of flights to and from the four south Asian countries.

The Maldives has also barred travellers from a number of South Asian countries including Sri Lanka in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak.

An islandwide travel restriction will be imposed from 11 pm tomorrow to 4 am till Monday in order to prevent a further spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, Army Chief Shavendra Silva told Daily Mirror.

The travel restriction similar to a curfew will prevent people from leaving their homes while only essential services will be allowed to travel on the roads.

After Monday, the travel restriction will come into effect from 11 pm to 4 am daily till May 31, the Army Commander said.

Meanwhile the vaccination program will continue islandwide and those who wish to be vaccinated have been told to go to their nearest center.

A Digital Identity Card using the latest technology will be issued to the general public in the near future to made the COVID-19 vaccination drive move efficient said Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa on Tuesday (11).

He said the new Digital ID is the result of discussions with the Ministry of Health and the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA).

The new digital identity card which will be provided to every person will include information on vaccinations ( the vaccination date, place, time, and type of vaccine issued by the government, as well as relevant information for the second dose)

This program is expected to avoid the issues associated with vaccination.