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A suspect who was allegedly planning to assassinate two prison officers has been arrested by Sahaspura Police.

Police said the suspect is a 30-year-old resident of the Badowita area.

An examination of his mobile phone revealed that he had allegedly been planning to kill two prison officers on the instructions of an organised criminal and drug trafficker known as “Kos Malli”, who is currently overseas.

Police said they also found audio recordings of conversations between the suspect and Kos Malli while examining the suspect’s mobile phone.

Police said the suspect had been released on bail three days before the unrest broke out at the New Magazine Prison.

The suspect is also a close associate of Mohamed Asman, an organised criminal who was killed during the unrest at the New Magazine Prison.

Police said Asman had acted as the gunman in a double murder that took place on Watarappala Road in Dehiwala last year.

The Presidential Special Commission of Inquiry investigating coal transactions has reportedly recorded statements from former Energy Ministers Kanchana Wijesekera and Pavithra Wanniarachchi.

Kanchana Wijesekera was questioned for more than five hours yesterday (14), during which his statement was recorded, while former Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi gave a statement the previous day (13).

Former Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody was also questioned recently in connection with the coal transactions.

The Commission is said to have so far recorded statements from nearly 150 people in connection with the coal transactions.

The Commission is headed by Supreme Court Justice Gihan Kulatunga. The other members are Court of Appeal Justice Adithya Patabendige and High Court Judge Sanjeewa Somarathne.

The Commission has decided to question several more people in the coming days.

The Commission’s final report is scheduled to be h

மத்திய கிழக்கில் உள்ள அமெரிக்க கப்பலான யூஎஸ்எஸ் ஆப்ரஹாம் லிங்கனுக்கு மாற்றாக செயல்பட மற்றுமொரு அமெரிக்க விமானம் தாங்கி கப்பல் அங்கு விரைகிறது.

மத்திய கிழக்கில் உள்ள அமெரிக்க கப்பலான யூஎஸ்எஸ் ஆப்ரஹாம் லிங்கனுக்கு மாற்றாக செயல்பட மற்றுமொரு அமெரிக்க விமானம் தாங்கி கப்பல் அங்கு விரைகிறது.

மத்திய கிழக்கில் உள்ள அமெரிக்க கப்பலான யூஎஸ்எஸ் ஆப்ரஹாம் லிங்கனுக்கு மாற்றாக செயல்பட மற்றுமொரு அமெரிக்க விமானம் தாங்கி கப்பல் அங்கு விரைகிறது.

“Shiran Basik”, a major drug trafficker who was arrested in Dubai, was brought back to Sri Lanka last night (14).

Two other suspects were also brought back with him.

The suspects were flown from Abu Dhabi to Bandaranaike International Airport on Air Arabia flight 3L-708, which arrived at 8.48 p.m. yesterday.

Shiran Basik, a 48-year-old resident of the Kalubowila area in Dehiwala, is wanted under a Red Notice issued by Interpol.

Shiran Basik had travelled to the United Arab Emirates in 2018.

He was arrested by Dubai Police on 26 May this year.

He had reportedly been arrested by the UAE security authorities after they found photographs and video footage of drones and missiles used by Iran to attack the United Arab Emirates during the recent Iran-US war stored on his mobile phone. It has also been reported that the United States had requested that he be handed over to the US for investigations.

Police sources sa

நாட்டின் 80வது சுதந்திர தினத்தை முன்னிட்டு, மோதி டெல்லி செங்கோட்டையில் கொடியேற்றினார்.

வியட்நாமின் கிராமப்புற விவசாயத் தொழிலாளர்கள் கிட்டத்தட்ட மனித சக்திக்கு அப்பாற்பட்டவர்கள் போலத் தோன்றலாம். தினமும், ஒரு கம்பியின் இரு முனைகளிலும் அதிக எடையுள்ள பொருட்களைத் தொங்கவிட்டு, அவற்றைத் தோளில் சுமந்தபடி பல கிலோமீட்டர் தூரம் நடந்து செல்கின்றனர்.

Showers will occur at times in Sabaragamuwa province and in Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Galle and Matara districts today (Aug. 15), according to the Department of Meteorology.

Several spells of showers may occur in Western and North-western provinces.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts after 2.00 p.m.

Fairly strong winds of about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times over North-central, North-western, Central and Southern provinces and in Trincomalee District.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damage caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.