Freed Mudalige to reveal ‘assassination’ plot by Govt. today
Wasantha Mudalige released from terror charges
Convenor of the Inter-University Student’s Federation (IUSF) Wasantha Mudalige who was in remand custody has been released from the case filed under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
Mudalige who was detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act was released by the Colombo Chief Magistrate today (31).
Issuing the verdict, the Colombo Chief Magistrate discharged Wasantha Mudalige from all charges filed under the PTA.
According to Mawbima, the Colombo Chief Magistrate released Mudalige, stating that it has been proven that the Colombo Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) had misused the PTA to file charges against Mudalige.
The Colombo Chief Magistrate further stated that Mudalige has not committed any of the offences specified in the PTA.
The student activist was detained under the PTA for over 140 days over his participation in anti-government protests in
Notorious underworld gangster Mohamed Najim Mohamed Imran alias ‘Kanjipani’ Imran sneaked into Rameswaram days after his release on bail by a court in Sri Lanka, The Hindu reported quoting police sources.
The Tamil Nadu intelligence has sounded an alert to senior police officers across the State to mount vigil along the coastal districts and look for him and his associate who landed along the Ramanathapuram district coast on December 25, 2022.
Imran, wanted by the Sri Lankan authorities for various offences, including murders and criminal intimidation, was arrested in Dubai in 2019 and deported to the Island Nation. He was in judicial custody till a local court granted him bail on payment of two sureties, each 5 million local currencies.
The State intelligence had a specific input from central intelligence agencies and reliable sources that Imran was planning to enter India after his release on bail. The information was that he left the court in disguise and moved to Thalaimannar from where his associates were making arrangements for his infiltration into India, the sources said.
“Imran is a drug kingpin with strong connections with heroin and cocaine suppliers based out of Afghanistan and Pakistan. He is facing several cases in Sri Lanka. On information that Imran would attend a birthday function in Dubai, a special team arrested him there in 2019. His gang is actively involved in big time smuggling of drugs across maritime boundary lines,” a senior police officer told The Hindu on Saturday.
Though there is no formal communication from Sri Lanka on Imran escaping to India, intelligence agencies received credible input on his movement and issued the alert, the officer who did not want to be quoted said.
The entry of Imran into Tamil Nadu gains significance in the backdrop of the National Investigation Agency exposing an international drug cartel involving Sri Lankan nationals operating from the Special Camp in Tiruchi that houses foreign nationals facing criminal charges.
Commissioners/Superintendents of Police, particularly in the coastal districts, have been alerted to enhance surveillance at vulnerable locations and activate their intelligence machinery to trace the suspect.
Police sources said that the NIA was also tracking the movement and activities of Imran and his associates as investigators believed that he had close links with Haji Salim of Pakistan and Gunasekaran alias Gun, the prime suspect in the Vizhinjam drugs and arms trafficking case, where coastal security agencies seized 301 kg heroin, five AK 47 rifles and 1000 9-mm ammunition from six Sri Lankan nationals, who were found on vessel ‘Ravihansi’ off Vizhinjam on March 25, 2021.
Source – The Hindu
The large- scale financial fraudster, businesswoman Thilini Priyamali, was released from prison a short while ago.
Accordingly Priyamali, who was in remand custody over financial fraud, was released from prison today (27 Dec.) after fulfilling her bail conditions, Prisons Commissioner General and Spokesman Chandana Ekanayake said.
Priyamali was brought before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court this morning to sign the bail conditions she was recently released on.
Police used tear gas and water cannons today to disperse the Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) protesters in front of the World Trade Centre (WTC) while attempting to enter the Presidential Secretariat.
SLPP MPs Sanath Nishantha & Milan Jayatilake arrested
SLPP MP Sanath Nishantha has been arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department over violent incidents which took place at Galle Face and Colpetty on 9th May.
SLPP MP Milan Jayatilake was also arrested.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s special statement addressing the nation commenced, a short while ago.
He stated that last Thursday, he had accepted the Premiership of Sri Lanka and that it was not what he had asked for.
“I did not ask for that position. In the face of the crisis situation in the country, the President invited me to accept this position. At this moment, Sri Lanka’s economy is at a very dangerous position.” he said.
Sri Lanka's new prime minister has told the BBC an economic crisis that has brought misery and unrest is "going to get worse before it gets better".
The country is facing fuel shortages and soaring food prices, with some Sri Lankans forced to skip meals.
Anger over the government's handling of the crisis has led to violent protests.
Ranil Wickremesinghe, who returns for a sixth time as prime minister of Sri Lanka, promised families will get three meals a day in an attempt to diffuse rising tensions.
While calling for a full investigation into the attacks on peaceful protestors in Colombo, the US State Department has expressed its concern over the deployment of the military in Sri Lanka.
“Well, we’re concerned by the deployment of the military. We underscore, we stress that peaceful protesters should never be subject to violence or intimidation, whether that’s on the part of a military force or civilian unit,” US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said on Tuesday at the daily press briefing.
“More broadly, we’re deeply concerned by reports of escalating violence in Sri Lanka over the past few days. We condemn, as I said before, violence against peaceful protesters. We call for a full investigation, arrests, and prosecution of anyone instigating and involved in acts of violence. We are, as I said before, also closely monitoring the deployment of troops, something that is of concern to us, and we’re also closely following political developments and the situation on the ground in Sri Lanka after the resignation of the prime minister,” he said.
“We urge the government and political leaders to work quickly to ensure public safety and work together to identify and implement solutions to achieve long-term economic and political stability in Sri Lanka. The government must address the Sri Lankan people’s discontent over the economic crisis, including power, food, and medicine shortages, as well as their concerns about the political future of their country,” the spokesman added.
AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES
Sri Lanka issues ‘shoot-on-sight’ order to quell unrest
The government authorises military and police to arrest people without warrants a day after the deadly violence and the PM’s resignation.
