Eleven Lankan fishermen arrested by Indian Coast Guard

Health experts are investigating cases of Strep A infection after the deaths of six young children and a rise in cases.

STRICTLY star Kym Marsh is returning for the Quarter Finals TONIGHT after she was forced to miss last's live show week due to Covid. Actress Kym Marsh, 46, began training again this week and will return to Strictly Come Dancing as she and pro partner Graziano, 28, perform a Cha Cha Cha for Musicals Week tonight. Meanwhile, former frontrunner Hamza Yassin's odds of winning Strictly 2022 have fallen away as new data reveals he’s no longer the show's favourite star.

GOOD Morning Britain host Kate Garraway gave an emotional update on Derek Draper's health this morning. The 55-year-old star appeared on Lorraine Kelly's show with co-host Ben Shephard when she opened up about her husband. Derek was taken to intensive care with Covid in March 2020 and only allowed home in April the following year.

(Reuters) – International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on Thursday that she will travel to Beijing next week with heads of other international institutions to press for quicker action on debt relief for poor and developing countries.The meetings with the country's leadership will focus on China's economic, COVID-19 and debt relief policies and will include officials from China Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of China, the IMF said."This is the first time, hopefully, we will be able to sit together and discuss the very pressing issues that China, and the world are faced with," Georgieva told the Reuters NEXT conference.Georgieva said that during the Beijing meetings she intends to discuss ways to accelerate China's participation in debt relief for poor and developing countries as the world's largest official bilateral creditor."I am very hopeful that when we have a chance next week to discuss these issues, we will continue on a path of finding better solutions and strengthening the capacity of the common framework to deliver," she said, referring to G20 countries' slow-to-launch common debt restructuring framework.World Bank President David Malpass told the conference that he would join the discussions in Beijing, along with officials from the World Trade Organization, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and others.Georgieva and Malpass have both called for reforms of the common framework to offer heavily indebted countries a freeze in debt service payments when they apply for debt relief and clearer timelines for reaching agreement on debt treatments.Asked if China's slowing growth would limit its appetite for agreeing to debt reductions, Georgieva said she hoped

A new study has revealed that teenagers had a tremendous impact on their mental health due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The findings claimed that pandemic-related stressors have physically aged the brains of adolescents.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Parliamentarian & Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka told Parliament on Friday (2) that the project to dig trenches as a solution to the Human-Elephant Conflict is a failure.Sarath Fonseka said that a ruling party MP from Ampara had proposed for trenches to be dug as a solution to the human-elephant conflict.Fonseka said warned that digging up a trench that is 10 feet wide and 10 feet deep would pose a direct threat to the river systems in the country.He added that even though the Department of Wildlife Conservation had not approved the project on technicalities, a 55-kilometer-long trench has been dug up, and the allegation is that the project is being used to illegally remove soil and sand.His comments were met with strong opposition from the ruling party in the house.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva told Reuters Next on Friday (2) that changes to the G20 Common Framework on debt restructuring were needed to speed up debt treatments, freeze debt service payments once a country requested help, and open the process to middle-income countries like Sri Lanka."We are concerned that there is a risk for confidence in debt resolution to be eroded at a time when the level of debt is very high," Georgieva said."We don't see at this point … a risk of a systemic debt crisis," she said, adding that countries in debt distress were not large enough to trigger a crisis that would threaten financial stability.Source: Reuters

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The 3rd term for all Government & Government-approved schools will commence on Monday (5).The Education Ministry's Additional Secretary for School Affairs Lalitha Egodawala speaking to News 1st said that the 2nd term concluded on Thursday (1) and Friday (2) was declared a holiday for all schools.Christmas holidays for schools will commence on the 22nd of December, and schools will re-open on the 2nd of January 2023.Thereafter, schools will close for a month from 20th January to 20th February 2023 for the G.C.E.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's State Ministry of Higher Education says the cut-off marks for university entrance based on the results of the recent A/L examination will be released today (2). The Ministry further said that it has planned to enrol 44,000 students in the universities this year based on the cut-off marks.Over 85,000 students applied for admission to state universities this year.The selected students are scheduled to start their academic activities in each university in January 2023.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Chairman of Sri Lanka Thriposha Ltd Deepthi Kularatne says Thriposha production resumed after suitable stocks of maize were made available.Nearly, 60,000 triposha packets are being produced by the company daily and are being distributed across the country.He further said that the production of triphosha products for mothers will continue.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Department of Meteorology says that showers or thundershowers will occur in Northern and Eastern provinces and in the Hambanthota district.Showers or thundershowers will occur elsewhere during the afternoon or night.Fairly heavy showers above 75mm are likely at some places in Western, Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.Condition of Rain:Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in the sea areas off the coast extending from Puttalam to Pottuvil via Kankasanturai, Trincomalee and Batticaloa. Showers or thundershowers will occur in the other sea areas during the afternoon or night.Winds:Winds will be north-easterly and wind speed will be (20-30) kmph.State of Sea:The sea areas around the island will be slight.Temporarily strong gusty winds and very rough seas can be expected during thundershowers.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Fitch Ratings has downgraded Sri Lanka's Long-Term Local-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to 'CC', from 'CCC', and has affirmed the Long-Term Foreign-Currency IDR at 'RD' (Restricted Default). Fitch typically does not assign Outlooks to ratings of 'CCC+' or below.Fitch has also removed the Long-Term Local-Currency IDR from Under Criteria Observation, on which it was placed on 14 July 2022, following the publication of the updated Sovereign Rating Criteria.A full list of rating actions is at the end of this rating action commentary.KEY RATING DRIVERS:Challenging Domestic Financing Outlook: Sri Lanka continues to service its local-currency debt, but the downgrade of the Long-Term Local-Currency IDR reflects our view that a local-currency debt default is probable, in view of an untenably high domestic interest payment/revenue ratio, high interest costs, tight domestic financing conditions and rising local-currency debt/GDP in the context of high domestic fiscal financing requirements, which authorities forecast at about 8% of GDP in 2022.According to authorities, domestic interest payments in 8M22 were LKR718.8 billion, taking the domestic interest/revenue ratio to an estimated 56% in 8M22; the highest among sovereigns rated 'CCC+' and below.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda said recently (29) that due to the fuel crisis, steps will be taken to introduce electric motor boats for fishermen from next year.The Minister mentioned this at the meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on fisheries in Parliament.The minister pointed out that it is expected to introduce electric motor boats that can travel 100 kilometres using batteries and the cost is only 86 rupees per day to fishermen engaged in small-scale fishing.The Minister also mentioned that attention has also been paid to providing electricity generation facilities through solar panels and wind turbines for boats using kerosene and diesel.State Minister of Fisheries Piyal Nishantha, mentioned that a special mobile service is being implemented successfully by the ministry to solve the problems faced by the fishermen.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's President, Prime Minister, Speaker and other public representatives stood in unity with the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus for Global Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) on Thursday (1).A wristband given to Parliamentarians with the message “Let’s Unite to end Gender Based Violence” as a sign of support.

NEW DELHI : National AIDS toll-free helpline, lifetime free ART services and regular viral load monitoring for PLHIV are some of the steps taken by the government to strengthen HIV/AIDS and STD response, said Union Minister of state for Health and Family Welfare, Bharati Pravin Pawar on Thursday.  Addressing the World AIDS Day celebrations, the minister said that the World AIDS Day is an opportunity to show solidarity with people living with HIV (PLHIV) and create awareness for the same. “The theme of this year’s World AIDS Day is ‘Equalize’, which is a slogan for a call to action for all connected with this crusade.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that a bill on gender equality and women's empowerment will be submitted to Parliament soon and he also instructed the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus to prepare the bill. The President emphasized that women's representation should be increased not only in the Parliament but also in other sectors and the public sector as well as the private sector should focus their attention in this regard. The President pointed out that the representation of women in the First Council of Sri Lanka was 2% and 91 years after universal suffrage, the representation of women in the current parliament is only 5.3%. President Ranil Wickremesinghe made these observations by joining the Committee Stage Debate on the budget proposal for the financial year 2023 in parliament on Thursday (01). Statement issued by the President's Media Division:“I expect to speak especially on the Ministry under me. We thank the Women Parliamentarians’ Caucus for commencing a 16-day campaign against Gender-Based Violence (GBV). It was in 1931 that Sri Lankans got the universal franchise.

Sarah Beeny has been inundated with supportive messages from fans today after she shared a positive update following her recent cancer diagnosis.The 50-year-old shared a selfie of her wearing a purple woolly hat as she enjoyed a walk out in the open.Alongside the post, she revealed she was feeling more "human" following a recent picture of her back in hospital for treatment.She wrote: "It may be cold but WHAT a beautiful morning!!"One of my very fav hats I’ve been given and feeling human! You were right - it does pass!"Many of the presenter's 245,000 followers flocked to her post to comment.Zara Tindall's hug with Mike on I’m A Celeb questioned by Ant and DecSusieqbach typed: "Hang on in there, Sarah. Looking marvelous, out there using all your senses, smell that air, hear those birds, see those views."Shelleylilburne wrote: "Very cute hat...

COLOMBO (News 1st)- Sri Lanka's Public Security Secretary S. Hettiarachchi expects to deploy the Police Special Task Force to crack down on drugs and underworld criminal activity."Prisons are reaching maximum capacity because of the rising number of drug users.

Stephen Robinson insists St Mirren will “play their part” in protecting players from developing dementia after they’ve retired.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – A Sri Lankan and a Russian died after a three-wheeler collided with a train in Galle on Thursday (1) morning.Sri Lanka Police said the Russian was a female, and the train was travelling from Beliatte to Vavuniya. The three-wheeler had caught fire following the accident at the Maharamba Railway Crossing in Galle.Sri Lanka Railways said that there may be minor delays in operations.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Hambantota International Port announced that another luxury cruise MV Azamara Quest is expected to arrive on December 5th.The MV Azamara Quest will become the second cruise ship to dock at the Hambantota International Port this year, after the visit of Mein Schiff 5.Passengers from the Mein Schiff 5 visited Colombo, Yala national park, Udawalawe wildlife park, and the historical rock temple of Mulkirigala.Bundala National Park, Hambantota Botanical Gardens, Galle and Kataragama were popular destinations among the Mein Schiff 5’s passengers. MV Azamara Quest (IMO: 9210218) is a Passenger Ship that was built in 2000 (22 years ago) and is sailing under the flag of Malta.Its carrying capacity is 30277 Gross Tonnage and its current draught is reported to be 5.9 meters.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's Cabinet approved a hike in electricity tariffs under two steps in January and June 2023.A statement from Sri Lanka Parliament said that although the electricity tariff has been increased in the past, it is not sufficient to cover the loss of the electricity board and thus, the request to increase the electricity bill has received cabinet approval. This was disclosed at the Sub Committee on Identifying the Short & Medium-Term Programmes related to Economic Stabilization of the National Council held on Wednesday (29).Accordingly, the Cabinet has approved increasing the electricity tariffs under two steps in January and June 2023.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena endorsed the certificate on the “Appropriation (Amendment)” Bill which was passed in Parliament on Wednesday (30).This bill to amend Appropriation Act No. 30 of 2021 was presented by the Prime Minister and Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government Dinesh Gunawardena on 15th of November, 2022.Accordingly, paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 2 of the Appropriation Act, No.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ali Sabry, left for Dhaka, Bangladesh on 23 November 2022 to attend the 22nd Meeting of the Council of Ministers (COM) of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). Foreign Minister Sabry is expected to address the IORA Council of Ministers on 24th  November 2022 as the current Vice Chair of the IORA.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament on Wednesday (23) that he would not dissolve the house until stability returns to the country and vowed not to allow another Aragalaya to change the country's government. He said he would deploy the military and use emergency powers if necessary.The President accused the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) and its leader Kumar Gunaratnam of being responsible for the attempt to capture parliament on the 13th of July 2022.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Two more men arrested for their alleged link to the sex trafficking ring in Oman were remanded to the 1st of December 2023.The suspects were produced to the Colombo Chief Magistrate Nandana Amarasinghe by the Criminal Investigations Department on Tuesday (22).One suspect was arrested by the CID in Kurunegala, while the other was arrested in Colombo.Sri Lanka's Criminal Investigations Department arrested a woman with links to the sex trafficking ring in Oman, after she surrendered to the CID on Monday (21) morning. She was later released on two personal bails of Rs.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment  Manusha Nanayakkara in Parliament informed today (22) that the law will be strictly enforced against those involved in trafficking women to Oman, where they are auctioned and sold to the highest bidder.Minister Manusha Nanayakkara revealed to the parliament that as per the data available with the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau there are 12 Sri Lankan women at the Safe-House in Oman operated by the Sri Lankan Embassy who had registered themselves with the SLFEB, and another 65 who had used visit visa to travel to Oman citing other reasons to Sri Lankan authorities.He added that 70 Sri Lankan women registered with the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau, and 7 Sri Lankan women have used visit visa and are currently held in Dubai.The Minister went on to note that Sri Lankans who registered with the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau and face issues overseas can be brought back to the country without any issue, however, there is growing concern over the rise in numbers using visit visa for employment purposes.He added that legal action was instituted on over 100 incidents of abuse, and multiple suspects were arrested based on the investigations.He revealed to the house that only 40 Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau personnel are assigned to meet the needs of all countries, however, Cabinet has approved to recruit of another 50 personnel.Minister Manusha Nanayakkara individual at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Oman who is accused of committing sexual abuse towards Sri Lankan women over there has been interdicted and will be brought back to the country where he will be arrested on arrival, and will be investigated. 

COLOMBO (News 1st) – An Italian man and a Sri Lankan who were arrested over a foreign employment racket were remanded to the 5th of December.Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) arrested four people including an Italian from a hotel in Badulla for conducting interviews for employment opportunities in Romania, violating Sri Lankan laws.The two other Sri Lankans were released on personal bail of Rs. 500,000/- each.The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment said that the men had published ads on Facebook for employment opportunities in Romania and conducted interviews, without any approval from the SLBFE.Around 30 people responded to the online ad and were presented for interviews in Baduall when the arrests were made.It was also reported that candidates were being charged around Rs.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Colombo North Crimes Division arrested a man from Dehiwala for the possession of 78,700 narcotic pills.The arrest was made following raids in Mutuwal and Kalubowila.Sri Lanka Police said that the suspect had illegally imported the drugs by and air and sea routes.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Sri Lankan Government’s intention was to resume the negotiations on free trade agreements said Secretary to the President Saman Ekanayake.It is the vision of the President that Sri Lanka will integrate with the global value chains and with the largest economies in South Asia and East Asia and then expand to the east region linking to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).Further, the Secretary to the President invited private sector stakeholders to creatively engage in this development initiative as they are the ultimate beneficiaries.He made these observations during an awareness session on the resumption of negotiations of free trade agreements held for Trade Chambers and Industry Advisory Committees at the Finance Ministry on November (16).Secretary to the Treasury, Secretaries of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Industries, and the members of the National Trade Negotiation Committee also participated.The contours of Global trade have been significantly changed in recent years by bringing regional and global production networks as driving factors of international trade where Sri Lanka has not yet been engaged to tap the potential.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's Criminal Investigations Department arrested a woman linked to trafficking women to Oman, where they are auctioned and sold to the highest bidder.The CID told News 1st on Monday (21) that the woman was operating the sex trafficking ring from Oman and was arrested after she surrendered to the Criminal Investigations Department.The CID said that it had been investigating her for several weeks, and she was not living at any of the four registered addresses.However, on Monday (21) morning, she surrendered to detectives and following her arrest three in total have been apprehended for their links to trafficking women to Oman.On Saturday 19th October 2022, Sri Lanka's Immigration and Emigration Department arrested a 40-year-old man at the Katunayake Airport for engaging in human smuggling.He was arrested when returning to Sri Lanka from Dubai and was identified as a resident of Wattala who was operating a Foreign Employment Agency in Maradana, Colombo 10.Thereafter, on Sunday (20) another suspect connected to the human trafficking ring was arrested from Avissawella.He was identified as a broker who sends Sri Lankan women to the Middle Easter, where they are smuggled from Abu Dhabi to Oman to be sold as sex slaves.The suspect was arrested based on the complaints made filed by Sri Lankan women stranded in the Middle East.Safe-House Abuse: Around 90 women who were subject to multiple forms of physical and mental abuse are currently given shelter at a safe house operated by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Oman.However, this safe house lacks the most basic facilities to accommodate a single woman, let alone 90 of them.These Sri Lankan women, some of who were auctioned for sex, are at this safe house

COLOMBO (News 1st) – 32 percent of Sri Lankan households are now food insecure, and 68 percent of households are turning to food based coping strategies such as eating less preferred food or reducing the number of meals and portion-sizes, revealed the latest World Food Program figures.UNICEF estimates that approximately 2.3 million children are in need of humanitarian assistance, including 56,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM).In late October, the Humanitarian Needs and Priorities plan (HNP) was extended until the end of 2022, with the aim of providing life-saving humanitarian assistance to 3.4 million of the most vulnerable people in Sri Lanka. United Nations agencies, funds and programmes and implementing partners have stepped up their interventions recently and the number of people reached, currently at around 1.2 million, is expected to further pick up speed in the next few weeks. In November alone, WFP aims to distribute 7,398 MT of food to approximately 400,000 people in five districts.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – A suspect involved in the Human trafficking ring involving Sri Lankan women in Oman has been arrested by officers of the Criminal Investigations Department in Avissawella.This arrest was made following a complaint made by musician Dushanth Weeraman. It was revealed that the suspect has operated as a middleman in the human trafficking ring.The suspect is to be produced before the Hulftsdorp Magistrate Court today.

Colombo (News 1st) – The Immigration and Emigration Unit at the Bandaranaike International Airport arrested the main suspect linked to trafficking Sri Lankan women to Oman, upon his return to the country from Dubai on Friday night (Nov. 18). The 40-year-old suspect is a resident of Wattala, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) told News 1st. According to the SLBFE, the suspect is believed to have trafficked women for sex through an office set up in Maradana.The 40-year-old man was handed over to the Katunayake Police for further investigations and he will be produced at the Negombo Magistrate's Court on Saturday (Nov.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka’s government promised parliament on Saturday that it would investigate revelations by News 1st of a major sex slave trade in which Sri Lankan women are being sold into slavery in Oman.Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena told the house that a special team was dispatched to look into the complaints of the sex slave ring in Oman, in order to take swift action. "The President has paid special attention to this situation.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – In recent days, News 1st exposed the plight of Sri Lankan women taken to Oman on visit visas and being auctioned for sex in the Middle East.Around 90 women who were subject to multiple forms of physical and mental abuse are currently given shelter at a safe house operated by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Oman.However, this safe house lacks the most basic facilities to accommodate a single woman, let alone 90 of them.These Sri Lankan women, some of who were auctioned for sex, are at this safe house because of the excessive trauma that they experienced, and sadly it has now been revealed that they repeatedly exploited the safe house in Oman."It's been three years since I arrived in Oman. I came here last month, but they are not allowing me to leave. The officer has my passport and documents.

 COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Sri Lankan mission in Oman has made it clear that if people are entering the Sultanate of Oman for employment, they must enter through the proper channels.The announcement came following multiple News 1st revelations about Sri Lankan women being trafficked to Oman using visit visa, and sold for sex.Earlier this week, News 1st revealed that 12 Sri Lankan women who were taken against their will to Oman after flying to Abu Dhabi on a visit visa, remain unaccounted for, and an extensive investigation is underway locally and overseas.An investigation by Sri Lanka's Criminal Investigations Department revealed that traffickers were taking away Sri Lankan women to Oman on visit vias, and they auctioned them to the highest bidder for sex.Following News 1st revelations, reports have emerged of several other women who remain missing after being taken to Oman. Some reports claim these women have been detained against their will.Fathima Hameedia is one Sri Lankan woman who remains unaccounted for in Oman.A 22-year-old mother of one, Fathima Hameedia is a resident of Palakkadu, Batticaloa and she left for Oman on the 6th of March on a visit visa.She had travelled overseas via a Foreign Employment Agency, however, several days after leaving the country she went missing."It's been nine months since my daughter went missing.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lankan women are being taken to Abu Dhabi in the UAE using Visit Visa, and are being taken away to Oman against their will where they are being auctioned to the highest bidder.According to reports obtained by News 1st, a group of 12 women have been taken to Oman by force.The group of women were taken away to Oman on Tuesday (16), and since then their mobile phones are switched off.Shashikala is one of them, and her husband stepped forward to speak to News 1st on the issue."They are kept in an office and were told that jobs will be given on Monday. I don't have many details.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lankan activists handed over letters to Foreign Missions based in Colombo seeking their intervention to abolish the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act and for the release of IUSF Convener Wasantha Mudalige, and Venerable Galwewa Siridhamma Thero, who are detained under the PTA.The group engaged in a silent protest opposite the UN compound in Colombo, and later handed over a letter to a UN representative.Thereafter the group proceeded to the Norwegian Embassy in Colombo, the EU office in Colombo, the British High Commission in Colombo, the US Embassy in Colombo, and the Canadian High Commission.The group thereafter attempted to hand-over a letter to the Indian High Commission in Colombo, however, it was not accepted.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Hirunika Premachandra who led a protest against harassment was arrested by the Cinnamon Gardens Police on Monday (14) afternoon.Police said that she was arrested on several charges.

PMD – President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as the Minister of Finance will present the 2023 budget to Parliament tomorrow (14) aimed at creating long-term, stable economic growth.The 2023 budget has given special attention to the sectors of capital market, export market, labour market and digital economy and it is expected to achieve the budget targets through the social market economy.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated two business associates of a sanctioned al-Qa’ida financial facilitator and external operations plotter. The two individuals designated today are Mohamad Irshad Mohamad Haris Nizar and Musab Turkmen, who conducted businesses activities to assist Ahmed Luqman Talib (Talib), who was previously designated by OFAC for facilitating the international movement of individuals and finances in furtherance of al-Qa’ida’s objectives. Australian authorities arrested Talib on March 25, 2021, and days later charged him with plotting incursions into foreign states for the purpose of engaging in hostile activities.“Treasury is taking this action to further disrupt a transnational al-Qa’ida financial facilitation and operational plotting network,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – The Sri Lanka Police Special Task Force arrested a 27-year-old man from Thamankaduwa, Gallella for possessing 118 stones believed to be gems.The STF said that the raid was carried out on the Akkaraipattu main road following an intelligence tip received by the officials of the Kalavanchikudi camp.Therefore, 188 stones of various colours suspected to be gems were seized from the possession of the suspect.In addition, a Gemstone Testing and Identification device were taken into custody.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Gopal Bagley and the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung were seen at the Lanka IOC Terminals in Trincomalee together accompanied by diplomatic staff on Thursday (10).The Indian High Commission in Colombo said that the diplomats were welcomed by the staff at Lanka IOC who briefed the two diplomats on its operations that contribute to energy security of Sri Lanka.The Indian High Commissioner also flagged off the first delivery of Lanka Super Diesel from the Trinco Terminal for Sri Lankan market. 

COLOMBO (News 1st) – World Bank Group President David Malpass has affirmed the World Bank Group’s support to Sri Lanka in rebuilding their economy & creating a foundation for sustainable private sector-led growth, said the President's Media Division.President Ranil Wickremesinghe met World Bank Group President David Malpass at COP27 where discussions focused on the challenging macro-economic and social situation in Sri Lanka.Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe returned to the country on Thursday (10) concluding his visit to Egypt where he attended the COP-27 summit.President Ranil Wickremesinghe held discussions on debt management with the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Kristalina Georgieva, Finance Minister of Ghana Ken Ofori-Atta and Speaker of the People’s Majlis of the Maldives Mohamed Nasheed on the sidelines of COP27.President Ranil Wickremesinghe addressing the COP 27 Climate Change Conference in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt said that unbridled industrialization of the developed countries is the root cause of climate change, leaving the poor to suffer the consequences.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it continues to monitor the progress of the passengers of Sri Lankan origin who were rescued and bought to the Port of Vung Tau in Viet Nam on 08 November 2022.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the Sri Lanka Navy that they had received information about a vessel carrying approximately 303 persons believed to be Sri Lankans which was in distress in the waters between the Philippines and Viet Nam on 07 November 2022.  Sri Lanka Navy having contacted the vessel, informed that the crew had abandoned the vessel with the passengers onboard. On the initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in coordination with the Sri Lanka Navy and the Sri Lanka Missions in the Philippines, Singapore and Viet Nam together with the regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centers (MRCC) based in Singapore, the rescue efforts were coordinated, said the Foreign Ministry.Subsequently, the Japanese-flagged vessel, “Helios Leader”, having been contacted by the Singapore MRCC, rescued the passengers from the distressed vessel. The passengers were handed over to Viet Nam authorities at Vung Tau Port in South Viet Nam.The screening of the passengers will be done by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in coordination with the Viet Nam authorities and the Sri Lanka Embassy in Viet Nam.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka detected its second case of Monkeypox on Wednesday (9), confirmed the country's Health Ministry.It is reported that the second person to have been tested for Monkeypox is a Sri Lankan who returned from Dubai recently.On the 4th of November 2022, Sri Lanka's health ministry reported the first case of monkey pox in the country.Sri Lanka detected its first case of Monkeypox on 4th November 2022,  after a 20-year-old man who returned to Sri Lanka from Dubai on the 1st of November tested positive.He had consulted a doctor for treatment due to suspicions that he may have contracted a social disease, and his samples were sent to the Medical Research Institute in Colombo where it was confirmed that he had Monkeypox.He is currently being treated at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases in Colombo.What is Monkeypox?Monkeypox is a viral zoonosis (a virus transmitted to humans from animals) with symptoms similar to those seen in the past in smallpox patients, although it is clinically less severe. With the eradication of smallpox in 1980 and subsequent cessation of smallpox vaccination, monkeypox has emerged as the most important orthopoxvirus for public health.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Sri Lanka's Criminal Investigations Department is investigating a human trafficking ring where Sri Lankan women who travel to Oman to work as domestic aides are auctioned and sold to work as escorts.Police Spokesperson & Attorney SSP Nihal Thalduwa told News 1said that a team of detectives led by two ASPs visited Oman to conduct the investigation.Multiple foreign employment agencies are sending young girls and women to Oman promising them employment as domestic aides, and most of them had used tourist visas to enter the middle-eastern country.Detectives uncovered that when the group reaches Oman, they are lined up according to their age and appearance and auctions and sold to engage in sexual activity."I was sexually abused inside a room. I am not afraid to reveal this to the CID and the Foreign Employment Bureau.