Tharaka Basnayaka Photography

24/06/2025

22/06/2025

🇱🇰📢🛫Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment Mandates Employment Contract Certification for Migrant Workers

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — A notice from the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) claims that, effective July 1, 2025, individuals leaving the country for the first time to work in non-domestic sectors in countries including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Maldives, Malaysia, Singapore, and South Korea must have their employment contracts certified by the relevant Sri Lankan mission before registering with the SLBFE.

The announcement, posted on the SLBFE states this measure aims to protect migrant workers. It also notes an exemption for those leaving for self-employment under professional categories, provided they present a passport indicating their profession or relevant documents confirming professional status.

Source - SLBFE

(by Tharaka Basnayaka)

22/06/2025

🇱🇰🚨Sri Lanka Police Arrest Suspect with Foreign-Made Fi****ms

KADANA, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka’s Special Task Force arrested a 47-year-old man in Kadana, Ja-Ela, on June 21, 2025, following a raid based on a tip-off. Authorities seized a foreign-made automatic pistol with three magazines containing 30 rounds, a foreign-manufactured repeater firearm, and 10 additional rounds.The suspect, a resident of Ekala, was handed over to Ja-Ela Police Station for further investigation. Police are continuing their inquiries into the incident.

(Source - Sri Lanka Police)

(by Tharaka Basnayaka)

22/06/2025

22/06/2025

21/06/2025

🚨👩‍⚕️🇱🇰Bribery Commission Seeks Public Assistance in Neurosurgeon Investigation

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) is actively seeking public assistance in its ongoing investigation into Dr. Maheshi Soorasinghe Wijerathne, a specialist neurosurgeon at Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital.
Dr. Wijerathne is being investigated for several charges, including allegedly causing financial losses to patients by directing them to procure EVD and VP SHUNT surgical equipment from external sources.
To date, statements have been collected from approximately 77 individuals who underwent surgeries performed by Dr. Wijerathne and subsequently faced problematic situations or were otherwise aggrieved.
CIABOC is appealing to the public to provide information. Individuals who have been affected by these surgeries or possess information regarding these alleged irregularities are urged to come forward and provide details to the commission.

For urgent inquiries, the public can contact CIABOC via their hotline at 1954 or by email at [email protected].
Contact: CIABOC - 0112502672

(Source - Department of Government Information)

(By Tharaka Basnayaka)

21/06/2025

❌🥂💲❌Sri Lanka Police Refute False Drunk Driving Fine Report

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – The Sri Lanka Police have debunked a false claim circulating online that drunk driving could result in a 2-year prison sentence or a 500,000 fine. In a social media statement, authorities labeled the information "fake" and announced measures against those disseminating it.



(by Tharaka Basnayaka)

21/06/2025

21/06/2025

🎰💲🇱🇰Sri Lanka Proposes Gambling Bill Ahead of Melco Casino Launch

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lanka introduced a bill Friday(20) to create a Gambling Regulatory Authority to oversee casinos and junket operators as Melco Resorts’ $1.2 billion City of Dreams casino in Colombo nears its August opening, officials said.
The bill aims to regulate gaming, aligning with global standards.
Melco, partnered with John Keells Holdings, secured a 20-year license in 2024 targeting $250 million in annual revenue.
Concerns over weak junket oversight and money laundering risks persist, with the bill facing further debate. Sri Lanka raised casino entry fees to $100 and gaming taxes to 18% for 2025.

(By Tharaka Basnayaka)

21/06/2025

🐘🇱🇰🇬🇧Prince William Spotlights Sri Lanka's Wildlife Rangers in "Guardians" Series

A new episode of Prince William's BBC docu-series, "Guardians," focuses on Sri Lankan wildlife rangers working to mitigate human-elephant conflict. The series highlights the critical conservation efforts of veterans like Chinthaka Pathirana amid habitat encroachment. William emphasized the global importance of these "unsung heroes".

Watch the video - https://youtu.be/hdA-bISKFTE?si=gRvWaKU6OvzogYwh

(By Tharaka Basnayaka)

21/06/2025

🇮🇳🇱🇰🇳🇵Indian Embassy in Iran to Include Sri Lankan, Nepali Citizens in Evacuation Efforts

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — The Indian Embassy in Iran announced saturday that its evacuation efforts in the country will extend to include citizens of Nepal and Sri Lanka.
The Embassy of India in Sri Lanka shared the update, stating that "on request of the Governments of Nepal and Sri Lanka, the Indian Embassy's evacuation efforts in Iran will also cover Citizens of Nepal and Sri Lanka."
Sri Lankan citizens in Iran were urged to urgently contact the Embassy of India on Telegram or via emergency contact numbers provided: +989010144557, +989128109115, and +989128109109.



(by Tharaka Basnayaka)