Sri Lanka Customs arrested two people who attempted to smuggle foreign currency out of the country, on Wednesday (2) morning.
According to the Narcotics Control Unit of Sri Lanka Customs, the two people had attempted to travel to Dubai via Emirates flight EK 649.
However, upon thorough inspection of the luggage of the two passengers, authorities managed to locate 46,000 Euros concealed inside.
The value of the foreign currency is approximately Rs. 11 Mn.
COLOMBO (News 1st): Mid-sea incident involving two Indian Trawlers that entered The Northern Sea of Sri Lanka, took place on Monday (31) night.
The trawlers, that had illegally entered into Lankan waters, were reportedly surrounded by Sri Lankan fishing boats until the Navy arrived. Both trawlers were then escorted to KKS.
Reports say that the Fishing community did not allow Minister Douglas Devananda to intervene last night, and protested against any attempt to have the trawlers released.
Two bodies of Sri Lankan fishermen lost at sea in a separate incident, were recovered yesterday with families pointing responsibility at Indian fishing vessels.
Encroachment by Indian fishing vessels into Sri Lankan Northern territorial waters has reached fever-pitch with daily incursions being recorded
COLOMBO (News 1st); Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa says the Government will not hold back on Development regardless of how tough times may become.
Speaking at an event, the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs stated that although the Government is facing many difficulties, that is not an excuse to let the country collapse.
Furthermore, he said that the Government had begun developing the most rural parts of Sri Lanka already, and is due to launch 100,000 projects on February 3rd.
Pointing out that the Government has allocated 3 million rupees to every local division, the Minister reiterated that the present Government is one which is focused on developing the country, and among such projects are the 100,000 kilometer road project, the irrigation projects, and even projects to build sports stadiums, bring down industries and to create entrepreneurs.
COLOMBO (News 1st); A heroin stock worth Rs. 3,300 million, which was seized in the South-Eastern seas off Sri Lanka, is due to be brought to the Colombo Port on Tuesday (25).
Police stated that it was revealed that the heroin smuggling operation was being carried out by a drug dealer named Hara Kata in Dubai.
Further investigations revealed that two other people have assisted the seize as well.
Navy Media Spokesman Captain Indika de Silva said that the Sri Lanka Navy seized two trawler boats transporting over 300 kg of heroin in the South-Eastern seas off Sri Lanka, in international waters on Monday (24).
11 suspects were arrested from aboard the two vessels.
The trawler that was taken into custody had set sail from Kudawella in Matara.
The Navy Spokesperson, speaking to News 1st, stated that the drugs were seized in a special joint operation with the State Intelligence Service and the Police Narcotic Bureau on 17th and 22nd January.
The special operation was mounted by the Offshore Patrol Vessel SLNS Samudura, based on a coordinated intelligence operation of the Navy Intelligence, State Intelligence Service and Police Narcotics Bureau. As such, SLNS Samudura, after about 02 weeks of surveillance in international waters about 737 nautical miles (about 1364km) off Dondra, southern coast, intercepted the suspicious local fishing vessel on 17th January.
Furthermore, Sri Lanka Navy seized more than Rs. 15.86 billion worth narcotics during operations in 2021.
COLOMBO (News 1st); The world famous dwarf elephant in Sri Lanka, fondly named ”Walawe Kota” is believed to have gone missing.
Concerns are mounting as NO information regarding the elephant was recorded since last year.
The dwarf elephant, which inhabits the Udawalawe National Park, was first spotted in 2013.
Although the legs were short due to genetic mutations, the animal grew well into an adult in its proportions.
Although Walawe Kota has been described as the only dwarf elephant in Sri Lanka, it became a half-truth in 2018, when that same year, a female dwarf elephant was also recorded on a surveillance camera.
Researchers believe that the two animals traveled in the same direction, however that is now uncertain.
Usually, “Walawe Kota” can be seen at the Udawalawe National Park borders between March and July.
The elephant then travels to the Lunugamwehere Park through the Wetahirakanda Elephant Pass before heading to Meegahajadura.
Wild Elephant researcher Sameera Weeratunga stated that the elephant has not been seen since the end of 2020, and that they are suspecting whether the elephant faced any problems in its travelling route.
There are several other issues to suspect that, as “Walawe Kota” showed scars on its body that can be suspected as gun shot injuries.
The Custodian of the Udawalawe National Park, R.G.R.S. Ranatunga said that wild elephants move around a lot, and believes the elephants can be seen back in the Udawalawa National Park.
There are concerns mounting as to whether there was any intervention to force change the movement patterns of wild elephants.
More attention should be paid to the fact that the world famous dwarf elephant has not been seen for more than a year due to the suspicious incidents that have been reported in the Udawalawe National Park in recent days.
On November 10th, a baby elephant was found tied up in this very National Park. And although this baby elephant was rescued, it was suspected that the GPS collar of the elephant belonged to another baby elephant.
The reason for this was that the captive baby elephant turning out to be one who was released from the Udawalawe Elephant Sanctuary and no such collar being attached to the animal at the time.
Is it not the responsibility of the authorities to look into these two unique creatures without waiting for them to return until next March?
COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Agriculture Ministry continues to deny entry to the Hippo Spirit carrier that is carrying rejected Chinese Fertilizer.
Dr. Ajantha De Silva, the Director-General of the Department of Agriculture said Sri Lanka rejected the Chinese Organic Fertilizer as samples tested for the presence of pathogens that are harmful to Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector.
“We did not grant the bulk permit to import stocks of the fertilizer. So without that permit, we cannot accept this ship even if it comes here. There are no provisions under the Plant quarantine act for us to accept this ship,” said the Director-General.
However, the Hippo Spirit vessel carrying rejected Chinese Organic Fertilizer is still in the Sea of Sri Lanka.
International vessel trackers indicate that this Chinese Ship continues to sail in the sea of Sri Lanka while intermittently disconnecting links with satellites.
The Hippo Spirit is carrying tonnes of rejected Chinese Fertilizer from Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd to Sri Lanka.
Earlier, it was reported that the Hippo Spirit, the ship carrying Chinese Organic Fertilizer, did not return to China after the first samples were rejected by Sri Lanka.
Instead, the Hippo Spirit had sailed to Singapore and altered its course back to Sri Lanka, without returning to China.
On the 22nd of September, the Hippo Spirit ship carrying 20,000 metric tonnes of organic fertilizer left for Colombo from China’s Qingdao Port.
But the ship was diverted to Singapore after harmful bacteria was detected in the samples of this fertilizer shipment.
The Hippo Spirit ship that didn’t return to China had left Singapore declaring it would be heading to the Colombo Port.
But on the 14th of this month, the automatic identification system (AIS) used to track the ship had been deactivated at the Malakka Strait.
Vessel trackers showed the last position of the ship as the Malakka Strait before it went out of range.
Data available online showed the Hippo Spirit ship in Hambantota on the 24th of this month under the name Seiyo Explorer.
The Hippo Spirit and the Seiyo Explorer both share the same IMO number, and therefore it can be confirmed the Hippo Spirit is the Seioy Explorer.
The IMO Ship Identification Number is a unique seven-digit number that remains unchanged through a
vessel’s lifetime and is linked to its hull, regardless of any changes of names, flags, or owners.
Although the ship was seen in Sri Lanka’s waters off the Hambantota District on the 24th of this month, the ship has gone out of range on tracking systems.
But on Sunday (31), marine traffic websites confirmed that the ship has entered the Sea of Sri Lanka and on 2nd November, it was further confirmed that the vessel is off the coast of Weligama, some 61 nautical miles away.
Most commented