Human smuggling Kingpin arrested
by Premalal Wijeratne-
The Crime Investigation Division of the Matara Police yesterday (12) arrested the main kingpin behind the Australia-bound human smuggling racket. A millionaire businessman, known by his alias, Kinniya Sarath, was arrested in Kiribathgoda early morning yesterday. He was allegedly involved in the illegal business of smuggling humans out of the country, from Kinniya, Trincomalee. A senior police officer who is conducting investigations said, the businessman had contested at the elections held for the Eastern Provincial Council from the Trincomalee District under the UNP banner, but he had been unsuccessful in winning a seat.
By Ifham Nizam-September 12, 2013
by Premalal Wijeratne-
The Crime Investigation Division of the Matara Police yesterday (12) arrested the main kingpin behind the Australia-bound human smuggling racket. A millionaire businessman, known by his alias, Kinniya Sarath, was arrested in Kiribathgoda early morning yesterday. He was allegedly involved in the illegal business of smuggling humans out of the country, from Kinniya, Trincomalee. A senior police officer who is conducting investigations said, the businessman had contested at the elections held for the Eastern Provincial Council from the Trincomalee District under the UNP banner, but he had been unsuccessful in winning a seat.
The suspect had dispatched a group of people to Australia in a fishing craft that belongs to him, investigations conducted so far reveal.
He was arrested while he had been on his way to the Kiribathgoda Hospital, and was taken to Crime Investigations Division of the Matara Police for interrogation, police sources said.
A Navy Lieutenant Commander, three naval officers, foreign job representatives and 26 other suspects have been taken into custody by the police in connection with this massive human smuggling operation.
All the suspects who are kept under detention, are being interrogated by the police.
Two ministries in ‘Power’ struggle
By Ifham Nizam-September 12, 2013
Environment and Renewable Energy Minister Susil Premajayantha is considering the possibility of amending certain clauses in the 2007 Sustainable Energy Authority of Sri Lanka (SLEASL) Act, which earlier came under the Power and Energy Ministry.
Ministry Secretary B. M. U. D. Basnayake told The Island yesterday that they were in the process of amending a set of clauses in the Act. “We have to refer this to the Cabinet soon, though at present we are coordinating the changes with the Power and Energy Ministry,” he said.
The Ministry Secretary said that the minister would take up the matter with his parliamentary colleagues shortly.
Basnayake said that though the 2007 SEASL Act came under the purview of the Environment and Renewable Energy Ministry, the Power and Energy Ministry had been entrusted with certain powers under the Act and those clauses were yet not deleted or amended.
Energy experts are critical of the Ceylon Electricity Board ( under the Power and Energy Ministry) recently instructing the SEASL to cut down in the intake of solar and wind energy.
"This is clearly against the government policy. The government policy clearly indicates that steps should be taken to increase the renewable energy intake by 20 per cent in 2020," he added.
The Sub Act A of Section Five of the SEASL Act Number 35 of 2007, clearly stated that when national energy policy was drafted responsibilities should be under the SEASL. Thus, the Act was applicable when committees were appointed to look into the alternative energy options, an official said.
Mahinda Chintana, Vision for the Future, which sets forth the development policy framework of Sri Lanka, has clearly mentioned that the protection of environment is an indispensable responsibility of the government in consideration of the wellbeing of the future generations.
The Ministry of Environment and Renewable Energy has taken initiatives to converge all the development activities carried out by the government towards the sustainable path by undertaking the ‘Haritha Lanka’ programme for sustainable development in order that the government commitment under the "Mahinda Chintana Vision for the Future" is achieved.
