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The Sri Lanka Police has expressed its gratitude to the Government of the United Arab Emirates and its relevant authorities for their assistance in the deportation of three wanted suspects to Sri Lanka on 15 January 2026.

In a statement, the Police said the successful operation was carried out through close coordination and effective cooperation between Sri Lankan law enforcement agencies and UAE authorities.

The Police noted that the action highlights the strong and longstanding relationship between the two countries, as well as their shared commitment to upholding the rule of law and strengthening regional and international security.

Acknowledging continued support from the UAE, the Sri Lanka Police pointed out that a total of eleven wanted suspects were deported to Sri Lanka with UAE assistance in 2024 and 2025. This, the statement said, further reflects the UAE’s consistent efforts in addressing transnational crime.

The Police Department also praised the professionalism and efficiency of the UAE Government and its agencies, reaffirming its intention to further enhance bilateral cooperation in the ongoing fight against cross-border crime and in safeguarding public security.

What begins as a simple message often appears harmless - even promising.

“Work from home. Earn in dollars.”
“Guaranteed job in Europe.”
“Fast-track university admission.”

For many Sri Lankans browsing WhatsApp or Telegram late at night, such messages seem like a rare opportunity. However, police warn these offers are frequently the first step in sophisticated financial scams designed to exploit trust and desperation.

Scams Built on Emotional Manipulation

According to the Police Media Division, online financial fraud has surged, driven largely by social media platforms and encrypted messaging services. Unlike traditional cybercrime, these scams rely less on advanced technology and more on psychological tactics.

Scammers often pretend to be recruitment agents, education consultants, or financial facilitators, advertising overseas jobs, online income schemes, or study opportunities — commonly linked to Europe. Victims are gradually persuaded to provide details to “confirm” their identity, “activate” accounts, or pay supposed processing fees.

This is where the fraud escalates.

How Victims Are Exploited

Under deceptive claims, scammers obtain sensitive information, including bank details, login credentials, one-time passwords (OTPs), and QR codes connected to digital wallets. In some cases, victims are convinced to transfer funds through their own bank accounts, unknowingly assisting in money laundering.

By the time victims realise something is wrong, their accounts have been drained, personal data compromised, and all contact with the scammers cut off.

Focus on Northern and Eastern Provinces

Police investigations show a growing number of large-scale scam cases originating in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. Authorities believe this trend is linked to high youth unemployment, strong interest in foreign employment, and widespread smartphone usage combined with limited access to verified migration guidance.

Fraudsters commonly apply pressure by claiming offers are time-limited, presenting forged documents, using fake institutional logos, or impersonating officials — all designed to appear credible and urgent.

The Trap of ‘Easy’ Online Income

Another popular scam involves online earning schemes. Victims are added to messaging groups where participants share screenshots of supposed profits. Small payments may be made initially to gain trust. Soon after, victims are asked to invest more money, scan QR codes, or install apps.

Once this happens, scammers gain control. Malicious apps steal data, QR codes redirect funds, and browser extensions capture passwords, turning a promised side income into continuous financial loss.

Police Advice to the Public

The Police Media Division emphasises that genuine employment and education opportunities do not operate in secrecy or through random messages.

Foreign employment and overseas study should only be pursued via registered and government-approved institutions, including the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) and recognised education authorities.

Police urge the public to follow these key precautions:

• Avoid income offers from unknown individuals or unverified social media groups.

• Never scan QR codes or download apps and extensions shared by strangers.

• Do not transfer money to unfamiliar accounts or allow others to use your bank account.

• Never share banking details, passwords, or OTPs with anyone.

• Be cautious when installing mobile apps and granting device permissions without verification.

Awareness as the First Line of Defence

Police stress that modern online scams are organised, adaptable, and often cross-border operations. Their success depends not on hacking systems, but on exploiting human trust.

Authorities say prevention starts with awareness — pausing before clicking, questioning before sharing, and verifying before believing.

In today’s digital environment, caution is not fear; it is protection.

And as police remind the public: if an online offer sounds too quick, too simple, or too good to be true, it almost certainly is.

(Source: lankanews.lk)

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday revised its estimate of India’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the current financial year (April 2025-March 2026) upward to 7.3 percent, from its earlier prediction of 6.6 percent.

The IMF’s prediction was just marginally lower than the Indian government’s projection of 7.4 percent for the same period.

In a report, the IMF said its upward revision was a reflection of stronger-than-expected growth in the third quarter (October-December 2025), and “strong momentum” in the fourth quarter (January-March 2026).

“Growth is projected to moderate to 6.4 percent in 2026 and 2027 as cyclical and temporary factors wane,” it said.

(Source:adaderana.lk)

Governments reacted cautiously on Sunday to US President Donald Trump’s invitation to join his “Board of Peace” initiative aimed at resolving conflicts globally, a plan that diplomats said could harm the work of the United Nations.

Only Hungary, whose leader is a close Trump ally, gave an unequivocal acceptance in response to the invitations, which have been addressed to some 60 nations and began arriving in European capitals on Saturday, according to diplomats.

Other governments appeared reluctant to make public statements, leaving officials to express concerns anonymously about the impact on the work of the U.N.

The board would be chaired for life by Trump and would start by addressing the Gaza conflict and then be expanded to deal with other conflicts, according to a copy of the letter and draft charter seen by Reuters.

Member states would be limited to three-year terms unless they pay $1 billion each to fund the board’s activities and earn permanent membership, the letter states.

“This simply offers permanent membership to partner countries who demonstrate deep commitment to peace, security, and prosperity,” the White House said in a post on X.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, visiting South Korea, told reporters her country was “ready to do our part”, although it was not clear whether she was specifically referring to Gaza or the broader peace.

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Sunday he had agreed to Trump’s Board of Peace for Gaza in principle although details were still being worked out.

The Board of Peace’s mandate was only authorized by the United Nations Security Council through 2027 and was solely focused on the Gaza conflict.

‘DARK TIMES’

The inclusion of a ‘charter’ in the invitation letter stoked concerns among some European governments that it could undermine the work of the United Nations, which Trump has accused of not supporting his efforts to end conflicts around the world.

“It’s a ‘Trump United Nations’ that ignores the fundamentals of the U.N. charter,” said one diplomat.

Three other Western diplomats said it looked as if it would undermine the United Nations if it went ahead.

A further three diplomats and an Israeli source said that Trump wanted the Board of Peace to eventually have a broader role beyond Gaza that would oversee the other conflicts that Trump has said he has resolved.

The leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Hungary, Australia, Canada, the European Commission and key Middle East powers were among those invited to sit on the Board of Peace, according to officials.

“Declaring that durable peace requires pragmatic judgment, common-sense solutions, and the courage to depart from approaches and institutions that have too often failed,” the document showed.

In what appeared to be directed at the United Nations, the document added that there was a “need for a more nimble and effective international peace-building body”.

Trump, who covets the Nobel Peace Prize, said in the letter that the board would convene in the near future, adding: “This board will be one of a kind, there has never been anything like it!”

In public comments in response to a reporter’s question, a senior U.N. official did not address the plan directly, but said the United Nations was the only institution with the moral and legal ability to bring together every nation, big or small.

“And if we question that … we fall back and very, very, dark, times,” Annalena Baerbock, president of the United Nations General Assembly, told Sky News, adding that it was up to individual states to decide what to do.

The White House on Friday named some individuals who will sit on the board, which would outlive its role supervising the temporary governance of Gaza, under a fragile ceasefire since October.

They included U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, former British prime minister Tony Blair and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas signed off on Trump’s plan, which says a Palestinian technocratic administration will be overseen by an international board, which will supervise Gaza’s governance for a transitional period.

TRUMP GOES FOR GLOBAL PEACE ROLE

“It’s going to, in my opinion, start with Gaza and then do conflicts as they arise,” President Donald Trump told Reuters in an interview earlier this week.

Many rights experts and advocates have said that Trump overseeing a board to supervise a foreign territory’s governance resembles a colonial structure, while Blair’s involvement was criticized last year due to his role in the Iraq war and the history of British imperialism in the Middle East.

The White House did not detail the responsibilities of each member of the board. The names do not include any Palestinians. The White House said more members will be announced over the coming weeks.

It also named a separate, 11-member “Gaza Executive Board” to support the technocratic body.

This would include Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, U.N. Middle East peace coordinator Sigrid Kaag, United Arab Emirates International Cooperation Minister Reem Al-Hashimy, Israeli-Cypriot billionaire Yakir Gabay and officials from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the composition of this board had not been coordinated with Israel and contradicted its policy – possibly a reference to Fidan’s presence, as Israel objects to Turkish involvement. Israel’s government also has a tense relationship with Qatar. An Israeli government spokesperson declined to comment beyond the statement.

(Source:pulseline.lk)

Several senior officials of the National Institute of Education (NIE) have been suspended in connection with the controversy surrounding the Grade 6 English language module.

Deputy Director General of the NIE, Darshana Samaraweera, has been placed on compulsory leave, while two other institute officials have also been suspended over the same matter. Earlier, NIE Director General Professor Manjula Vithanapathirana stepped down from her position pending the results of an internal investigation.

The issue arose after the Ministry of Education halted the distribution of a newly printed Grade 6 English module when it was discovered that the content contained a reference to an inappropriate website. The textbook, which had already been prepared and printed by the NIE, came under review following a formal complaint.

A huge explosion at a factory in northern China has killed two people and injured 84 others, with eight people still missing, state media reported.

The blast happened at around 15:00 local time (07:00 GMT) Sunday at Baogang United Steel plant in Inner Mongolia, causing noticeable tremors in the area.

Footage online showed the explosion sending large plumes of smoke into the sky, while the ground was littered with debris, including collapsed ceilings and pipes.

Five among the dozens hospitalised suffered serious injuries, state media reported. Authorities are investigating the cause of the blast.

Baogang United Steel is a major state-owned iron and steel enterprise.

China has a long history of industrial accidents, from factory explosions and mine collapses to mudslides.

In 2015, two massive explosions in the port of Tianjin killed 173 people, leaving hundreds more injured and devastating large areas of the city.

In May last year, an explosion in a chemical plant in the eastern province of Shandong killed five people and injured at least 19. The blast ripped the windows of building nearby from their hinges.

Source: adaderana.lk

Donald Trump has vowed to “100%” follow through on his threat to impose tariffs on European countries who oppose his demand to take control of Greenland.

European allies have rallied around Greenland’s sovereignty. Denmark’s foreign minister emphasised the US president cannot threaten his way to ownership of the semi-autonomous Danish territory.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper reiterated the UK’s position that the future of Greenland is for “Greenlanders and for the Danes alone” to decide.

On Monday, Trump declined to rule out the use of force and insisted he would press ahead with the threatened tariffs on goods arriving in the US from the UK and seven other Nato-allied countries.

Asked by NBC News if he would use force to seize Greenland, Trump answered: “No comment”.

The US president said he would charge Britain a 10% tariff “on any and all goods” sent to the US from 1 February, increasing to 25% from 1 June, until a deal is reached for Washington to purchase Greenland from Denmark.

Trump said the same would apply to Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland - all of whom are members of the defence alliance Nato which was founded in 1949.

Asked if he will follow through on the tariff threat, Mr Trump told NBC News: “I will, 100%.”

Trump added: “Europe ought to focus on the war with Russia and Ukraine because, frankly, you see what that’s gotten them... That’s what Europe should focus on - not Greenland.”

Denmark has warned that US military action in Greenland would spell the end of Nato. In recent days, Greenland has received support from European members of the alliance - some even sent a handful of troops to Greenland last week in a move seen as symbolic.

However, Trump followed that deployment with an announcement to impose tariffs on the eight Nato allies.

Danish foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said that Europe had to show President Trump tariff threats were “not the way forward”.

“We have red lines that can’t be crossed,” he told Sky News. “You can’t threaten your way to ownership of Greenland. I have no intention of escalating this situation.”

Nato secretary general Mark Rutte said the alliance will keep working with Denmark and Greenland on the security of the Arctic.

The European Union is to hold an emergency summit in Brussels for its leaders on Thursday where they will discuss how to respond to Trump’s latest threat to take over Greenland.

Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, said the bloc has “no interest to pick a fight, but we will hold our ground”.

“But trades threats are not the way to go about this,” Kallas added. “Sovereignty is not for trade.”

It comes as text exchanges between Trump and the Norwegian prime minister were released - showing that on Sunday the US president blamed Norway for the fact he didn’t get the Nobel Peace Prize.

In his reply - seen by the BBC - Jonas Gahr Støre explained that an independent committee, not the government of Norway, awards the prize which last October went to Venezuela’s opposition leader María Corina Machado.

“Norway’s position on Greenland is clear. Greenland is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and Norway fully supports the Kingdom of Denmark on this matter,” Støre added.

Trump also addressed the text message exchange in Monday’s interview and said: “Norway totally controls it [the Nobel Prize] despite what they say.

“They like to say they have nothing to do with it, but they have everything to do with it.”

Meanwhile, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (Norad) on Monday announced that multiple aircraft are on their way to Pituffik Space Base in Greenland.

The joint US-Canada military defence organisation stressed they are part of a routine operation “to support various long-planned Norad activities”, and said they had been coordinated with Denmark and that the government of Greenland had been informed.

Similar Norad operations at the base took place in 2022, 2023, and last year. 

(Source:adaderana.lk)

The Ministry of Education and Higher Education has ordered the suspension of two senior officials linked to the preparation of the disputed Grade Six English learning module, following the completion of an initial inquiry.

The decision, which comes into effect from January 19, is based on the findings of an investigative report submitted by Ranjith Ariyaratne, who was appointed to examine concerns surrounding the module. The report identified procedural shortcomings and lapses in duty by relevant officials as key factors that led to the controversy.

These findings were tabled at a special meeting of the National Education Institute’s board on January 17, where the matter was discussed in detail. Although the board is due to reconvene later this week to further examine specific aspects of the report, the ministry confirmed that the suspensions will be implemented without delay.

In addition, the ministry has initiated a separate investigation into the issue and stated that firm disciplinary measures will be taken against any officials found to be accountable.

Predominantly dry weather is expected to prevail across most parts of the country today (20), according to the Department of Meteorology.

The department cautioned that ground frost may occur in isolated areas of the Nuwara Eliya District during the early morning hours, particularly in higher elevations.

In addition, misty conditions are likely to develop in several regions, including the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central, North Western, North Central and Uva provinces. Similar conditions may also be experienced in parts of the Galle, Matara and Ampara districts during the early hours of the day.

More than 1,700 containers of imported salt are currently being held at the Port of Colombo after importers failed to comply with government regulations, officials said, worsening congestion at the country’s main port and raising concerns about regulatory enforcement following last year’s salt shortage.

Sri Lanka Customs officials revealed that over 1,000 containers have remained stored at port warehouses for more than six months after the permitted import period expired. In addition, nearly 700 containers are under detention due to quality-related issues and delays in certification by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI).

The government had permitted private sector salt imports last year to ease a domestic supply shortfall. However, a gazette notification limited imports to a deadline of June 10, 2025. Despite this, several importers continued to bring in consignments after the approval period had ended, resulting in shipments being left uncleared at port facilities.

Customs Director and Media Spokesman Chandana Punchihewa said authorities are strictly enforcing the gazette and have instructed importers to re-export consignments brought in without authorization. He noted that importers have been informed of the requirement but have yet to take the necessary action.

Officials also confirmed that at least one importing company has filed a court case in connection with the detained shipments.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Ports Authority Chairman Sirimevan Ranasinghe said discussions are ongoing to address the issue, as the backlog of containers has significantly contributed to port congestion.

With import, export and re-export volumes continuing to rise, Ports and Civil Aviation Minister Anura Karunathilake has directed officials to implement measures to ease congestion and reduce operational disruptions. As part of these efforts, authorities have decided to speed up clearance by transferring low-risk containers to the Bloemendhal Container Yard, operated by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, under full supervision of the Customs Department.

Sri Lanka’s post-disaster recovery initiatives, including the government’s “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” and “Healing Sri Lanka” programs, received international recognition at the inaugural Global Caregiver Forum 2026 in Madrid, Women and Child Affairs Minister Saroja Savithri Paulraj said.

The programs, aimed at restoring normalcy for families affected by the country’s recent major natural disaster, were highlighted by state leaders and experts from around the world for their focus on both infrastructure recovery and psychosocial support for children and caregivers.

Speaking at the closing plenary session, Minister Paulraj noted that “Healing Sri Lanka” was designed by the Women and Child Affairs Ministry as a parallel initiative to strengthen the psychosocial well-being of affected families, helping parents and caregivers heal while ensuring children receive quality care and protection.

The two-day forum, held under the patronage of Spain’s Queen Letizia and organised in collaboration with UNICEF, the World Health Organization, and the LEGO Foundation, brought together global experts to develop strategies for early childhood development and caregiving.

Minister Paulraj participated as a panelist alongside Kazakhstan’s Health Vice Minister Aliya Rustemova, CEO of Triple P Positive Parenting Programme Matt Buttery, Portugal’s Catarina Magalhães of Boavista Training and Development Centre, and Fergal Landy of Ireland’s Family Resource Centre National Forum.

The Sri Lankan delegation also included Nilushika Dhanasekara, Director of the National Secretariat for Early Childhood Development, and Shashikala Sumudu Kumari Ratnayake, Education Officer at UNICEF Sri Lanka.

( Source: lankaleader.lk)

The prolonged delay in appointing a permanent Auditor General has disrupted the issuance of audit reports and inquiries, raising concerns over transparency, oversight, and the management of public and foreign-funded projects..

The post has been unfilled for nearly ten months, marking the first extended vacancy in the country’s history.

The absence of a permanent Auditor-General has stalled many core functions of the National Audit Office, including audits of government programs and externally funded initiatives.

Auditor-General W.P.C. Wickramaratne retired on April 8 last year.

Senior Deputy Auditor-General Dharmapala Gammanpila was appointed acting Auditor-General on April 9, but his tenure ended on December 6, leaving the office without permanent leadership.

Gammanpila, a career auditor with more than three decades of experience, had been recommended for confirmation by the Constitutional Council during his acting term, but the appointment was never finalised.

Since then, representatives from audit and public service associations have petitioned president Anura Kumara Dissanayake to confirm Gammanpila.

During this period, the president submitted four alternative candidates, all of whom were rejected by the Constitutional Council.

Traditionally, the senior-most official in the National Audit Office is confirmed as Auditor-General.

( Source: lankaleader.lk)