Category: News

An international cybercrime network with links to Sri Lanka has been busted in India, the Indian media reported.

The Darjeeling Police have unearthed an international cybercrime network following the arrest of Md Saidur, a key operative from the Phansidewa police station area in Siliguri.

Addressing the media, Darjeeling Superintendent of Police Praween Prakash revealed that Saidur played a pivotal role in facilitating money laundering by renting out bank accounts to the racket.

Saidur, who operated a cyber café in Phansidewa, was linked to cybercrime syndicates based in Gujarat and Mumbai, which, in turn, were connected to a larger operation in Dubai. Saidur visited Gujarat to meet the racketeers, and later, a group of people from Gujarat arrived here to collect SIM cards from him. The racket utilised hundreds of rented bank accounts, many of which were operated from countries like Australia, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka.

“This is a massive, multi-layered cybercrime operation,” said Mr Prakash. “We have formed a five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by an ASP and SDPO to delve deeper into the case.”

Saidur had been evading arrest for nine months before being apprehended by the police. During interrogation, he disclosed critical details about the racket, which exploited bank accounts of unsuspecting individuals across the country. Police investigations revealed that Saidur had provided hundreds of bank accounts from his locality, including the Chater Haat area in Siliguri.

The probe began after complaints from six residents of Chater Haat, eventually uncovering 314 related cases registered with the National Crime Bureau. A raid on Saidur’s residence yielded 414 ATM cards, over 545 passbooks, PAN cards, and other incriminating documents. Saidur’s arrest followed the detention of accomplices Anil Gope, Md Anwar, and Tapan Gope.

According to Mr Prakash, Saidur earned over Rs 60,000 per rented bank account, amassing nearly 1,000 accounts, though police suspect the number could exceed 3,000. The racket facilitated transactions worth Rs 80 crore through 230 accounts, all of which have now been frozen. Additionally, nine accounts belonging to Saidur’s relatives held Rs 35 crore, with transactions traced to multiple locations.

“So far, we have identified fraudulent transactions exceeding Rs 100 crore, but the total could surpass Rs 200 crore,” Mr Prakash added. He cited examples of victims, including a Kolkata woman blackmailed into paying Rs 13 lakh and cases in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka where victims lost Rs 42 lakh. The amounts were funnelled through accounts provided by Saidur.

The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to uncover the full extent of the racket’s operations and bring all involved to justice.

(The Statesman)

The deadline for the accepting of applications to cast postal votes in the 2025 Local Government (LG) Elections ends at 12.00 midnight today (12).

The Election Commission earlier announced that the duly filled applications must be handed over to District Returning Officers through the District Election Office address on or before August 05.

The applications must be received by the respective District Election Offices before 12.00 midnight today, and mere delivery of applications by post on that day is not a reason for acceptance of applications, the Election Commission said.

The applications received after the deadline will be rejected without consideration, as per the Election Commission.

India’s Adani Green Energy has expressed its willingness to work with Sri Lanka on proposed renewable energy projects on the same terms decided earlier, a source said.

But Cabinet Spokesman Nalida Jayatissa said a discussion on the deal is possible only after a price revision.

Adani Group last month said it had decided to withdraw its wind power deals with Sri Lanka, after Colombo’s recently elected government demanded to lower the price.

The new government led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had demanded Adani to reduce per kilowatt-hour (KWH) to 6 US$ cents from 8.26 US$ cents, decided under the previous government.

“This is the same as our earlier communication,” said a source, who is privy to the latest correspondence between the Sri Lanka government and Adani company.

“We have written to the Sri Lanka government that we are willing to work on the same terms as earlier.”

The source said the company has responded to the Sri Lanka government via a letter on its stance.

“Our position is same as before. We are available to implement the project at the earlier agreed tariffs.”

Adani Green Energy was to invest $442 million to build two wind power stations in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province after protracted discussions to establish the 484 MW renewable energy wind farms at Mannar and Pooneryn, along with its associated Transmission system.

The government has revoked Adani project proposal’s earlier tariff. Sri Lanka’s Cabinet last year approved a 8.26 cents per unit tariff for the 484MW project, triggering a controversy over the price and court litigation by activists. Adani’s projects have also run into controversy after activists went to courts over possible impact on the environment and higher tariff.

Cabinet Spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa also said there was no change in the government’s stance on Adani deal.

“The government’s stance on Adani’s project has not changed yet,” he said.

“We are open for investment. If Adani brings suitable investments for us, we are ready to discuss. But the government has an opinion on the (unit) price in the proposed wind power project. It is high.”

“Our request is that the price revision should happen. If they come up with price revision, we can discuss. If they are not ready for price revision, then they can take a decision to give up the project.”

“It does not mean that all the investors coming to Sri Lanka are leaving. Whoever the investor, if the burden can’t be borne by us and if the government has to pass that burden to the people, then the government will take a decision with regard to this.”

He said President Dissanayake clearly told this when he went to India.

Adani’s announcement of withdrawal came after that.

“If they come up with price revision, we are ready to discuss. We don’t depend on one company or one country. We will discuss and decide everything depending on the benefits to the public. We don’t have any other interests,” Jayatissa, also the Minister of Health and Media, said.

Sri Lanka court has yet to decide on the legal cases.

The Cabinet has decided to present the Batalanda Commission Report to Parliament this week.

The announcement was made during the press briefing on Tuesday (11) to make public decisions reached by the cabinet of ministers.

In Sri Lanka, multiple parties have been urging the government to present the Batalanda Commission Report to Parliament and to implement its recommendations.

This report, which investigates incidents that occurred during the 1988/90 period, has resurfaced in public discourse following former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s recent appearance on Al Jazeera’s “Head to Head” program last Thursday (6), where he discussed related issues.

What is the Batalanda Commission Report?

In 1994, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was elected President of Sri Lanka, ending 17 years of United National Party (UNP) rule.

One of her key election promises was to seek justice for the human rights violations, murders and disappearances that occurred during the 1988/90 period.

Upon assuming office, President Kumaratunga established the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on September 21, 1995, to investigate these incidents.

This commission, known as the Batalanda Commission, was tasked with examining the illegal detention, torture, assassination and disappearances of individuals at the Batalanda Housing Scheme, which was under the purview of the State Fertilizer Manufacturing Corporation.

It was also tasked to identify those accountable, and make the necessary recommendations.

The commission was chaired by then Court of Appeal Judge D. Jayawickrama, with High Court Judge N.E. Dissanayake serving as a member.

A team of police officers was appointed to assist with the investigation, and the Attorney General’s Department provided legal support, leading the evidence in the presence of the commission.

Notable figures such as current Supreme Court Judge Yasantha Kodagoda and current President’s Counsel Sarath Jayamanne were part of this legal team.

The tenure of this Presidential Commission of Inquiry was extended on 12 separate occasions.

After nearly three years of gathering evidence, the commission submitted its report to President Kumaratunga on March 26, 1998.

What Happened to the Batalanda Report?

Despite being submitted to the then-President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, the recommendations of the Batalanda Commission Report were never implemented.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is expected to visit Sri Lanka early next month will participate in the groundbreaking ceremony for the ground mounted solar project in Sampur in the Western Province, Daily Mirror learns.

The Indian leader is expected to arrive in the country on April 4 for a two-day visit at the invitation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

The President extended the invitation during his first state visit to New Delhi in December, last year.

Energy connectivity, including the interconnection of the two power grids, is among matters envisaged in the joint statement between the two countries issued after the conclusion of the visit.

Emphasising the need for reliable, affordable and timely energy resources for ensuring energy
security and meeting basic needs of the people, both leaders underscored the importance of
strengthening cooperation in the energy sector and facilitation towards timely implementation of ongoing energy cooperation projects between India and Sri Lanka.

In this regard, the leaders agreed to: take steps towards the implementation of the solar power project in Sampur and further augment its capacity as per the requirements of Sri Lanka, according to the joint statement The Sampur solar project will be implemented as a joint venture between the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) of India.

The Cabinet clearance has already been given for the power purchasing agreement. The power, to be generated,will be purchased at a little over five US cents per unit. It will be a 120 Megawatt power plant.The Indian Prime Minister arrived in Sri Lanka for the first time during first tenure in office in 2015.

During that visit that took place during the time of the Yahapalana government, he discussed the need for the development of Trincomalee as a petroleum hub. Later, in May, 2017, he arrived in Sri Lanka to participate in the International Vesak Day celebration.