News
CID to question nine Lankan criminals in India prior to seeking their repatriation
By Norman Palihawadane
A team of CID investigators will fly to India to question nine Sri Lankan criminals arrested at refugee camp, in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu.
The CID said that following the investigation, a decision would be taken to have them repatriated to Sri Lanka to stand trial for various crimes.
The CID sources said that reports on these criminals, and their outstanding cases, had been called for from all local police stations, and a team of investigators would soon leave for India.
Meanwhile, foreign media reports said that the Indian National Investigation Agency (NIA) had arrested nine Lankans from the special camp for Sri Lankan Tamil, refugees at Tiruchirappalli, over their alleged involvement in drugs and arms smuggling to revive the LTTE.
The agency said that two of the arrested men were in regular touch with a Pakistan-based drug runner, Haji Salim, who often travelled between Dubai, Pakistan and Iran. These men and Salim were working to revive the LTTE, in Sri Lanka and India, the NIA said.
The suspects have been identified as C. Gunashekharan alias Kimbula Ele Guna Pukkudi Kanna, Mohamed Aswin, Sunil Gamini Fonseka alias Kota Gamini, Stanley Kennedy Fernando alias Bumma, Athurugiriye Ladiya, Welle Suranga, Mohamed Asmin and Thileepan.
“The case pertains to activities of a Sri Lankan drug mafia, controlled by C. Gunashekharan and Pushparajah, in association with Haji Salim, drug and arms supplier, based in Pakistan, but operating in India and Sri Lanka, in illegal drugs and arms, for the revival of the LTTE in India and Sri Lanka. This case was registered suo-moto by the NIA on July 8 this year,” an NIA spokesperson said
The Narcotics Control Bureau had earlier registered a case after law enforcement agencies arrested six Sri Lankan nationals and seized 300 kgs of heroin, five AK-47 rifles, and 1,000 rounds of 9mm ammunition off the coast of Vizhinjam, near Thiruvananthapuram, in March 2021.
Later, the Home Ministry had directed the NIA to book a case after it was found that a scheduled offence under the NIA Act, 2008, was committed by the accused.
Last year, Suresh Rajan, a Lankan national, was arrested from Angamaly, near Kochi, in connection with the case from Kerala for his alleged links with Haji Salim.
The NIA probe had also unearthed financial transactions, worth crores of rupees, in Rajan’s name.
“Rajan played a prominent role in drug and arms trafficking, to Sri Lanka, through the backyard of India. He was aided by several personnel who were part of the LTTE,” sources had said.
These nine Lankans are wanted by Sri Lanka Police for a series of crimes.
Nalin Chathuranga also known as Athurugiriye Ladiya is one of the main suspects in the murder of underworld gangster Samayan.
It was revealed that he was closely associating Angoda Lokka, a one-time underworld don.
C. Gunashekharan alias Kimbula Ele Guna is wanted by police for the murder of Sunil Mendis, and drug trafficking.
Pushparaj, also known as Pukkudi Kanna, is wanted for 10 separate homicides that took place in Colombo North.
Welle Suranga is also wanted for around 10 murders in the country.
Sunil Gamini Fonseka alias Kota Gamini is wanted by Sri Lanka Police for several murders, and is also charged with plotting to assassinate Former Senior DIG Priyantha Jayakody who was in charge of the Organized Crimes Prevention Division.
Stanley Kennedy Fernando alias Bumma is a professional hitman and is wanted for multiple crimes by the Sri Lanka Police.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
