Nearly 30 grams of 24‑carat gold valued at approximately Rs. 2.8 million was found in the possession of two women detained alongside a group suspected of attempting to smuggle gold from Sri Lanka to India on Wednesday. 

A customs inquiry into the pair is currently underway.

Customs officials said samples of around 520 grams of a substance suspected to be liquid gold, seized from two other suspects, have been sent for laboratory testing. 

Four more suspects remain under observation at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital until they expel suspected gold substances from their bodies.

Meanwhile, 18 passengers were released yesterday after examinations confirmed no hidden items were discovered.

The incident stems from the detention of 26 passengers, including 17 Indians, three Sri Lankan men and six Sri Lankan women, at Kankesanthurai Port on Wednesday (17). 

Acting on intelligence, Sri Lanka Customs intercepted the group as they prepared to board ferry SG423 bound for Nagapattinam, India. 

Two passengers were initially found with gold, prompting authorities to refer all 26 to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital for further examination.

Customs officials said investigations into the suspects are continuing. (Newswire)

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A new passenger ferry service named ‘Gangaai’ was officially launched today (27) at the Kurinchankerny Lagoon, providing safer and more reliable transport facilities for residents of the Kinniya area.

The ferry service, operated by the Road Development Authority (RDA), has been introduced in parallel with the Kurinchankerny Bridge Project to ensure uninterrupted connectivity for commuters.

The newly built ferry is equipped with modern safety features including life-saving equipment and advanced technology to enhance passenger security and comfort.

According to officials, the introduction of the ‘Gangaai’ service will ease daily travel difficulties faced by residents and support local economic activities by improving access between the two sides of the lagoon.

Authorities said the RDA will continue to oversee operations of the ferry service to maintain safety and reliability standards. (Newswire)

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At least four people are dead and dozens of others are missing after a ferry carrying 65 people sank off Indonesia’s resort island of Bali, authorities have said.

Rescuers are searching for 38 people after the KMP Tunu Pratama Jaya sank shortly after leaving East Java’s Banyuwangi port, Indonesia’s search and rescue agency, Badan Nasional Pencarian dan Pertolongan, said on Thursday.

Twenty-three survivors have been rescued as part of the rescue operations, which include nine vessels, according to officials.

Banyuwangi police chief, Rama Samtama Putra, said many of the survivors were initially unconscious after spending hours drifting in the ocean.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who is visiting Saudi Arabia, ordered an immediate emergency response, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya said in a statement, adding that the cause of the accident was “bad weather”.

Maritime disasters are a common occurrence in Indonesia, an archipelago of about 17,000 islands, where lax safety standards often allow vessels to be overloaded without adequate life-saving equipment. (Al Jazeera)

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The Cabinet has approved a proposal related to the promotion of maritime passenger transport between Sri Lanka and India.

Accordingly, approval has been granted to reduce the deviation tax currently charged to passengers leaving Sri Lanka by passenger vessels and passenger ships to USD 5 and USD20 respectively.

It has also been proposed to grant a free baggage allowance of up to 60 kg to a passenger travelling to India by passenger vessels. 

The government said it has been recognized that the promotion of maritime passenger transport between Sri Lanka and India has the potential to promote the tourism industry by providing increased access to tourists from both countries and through improved connections, to encourage cooperation in the fields of cultural exchange, arts and sports. 

To achieve this, it is essential to introduce a low-cost travel and transportation fee system, the government pointed out. 

Accordingly, the Cabinet approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation in this regard. (NewsWire)

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The high-speed passenger ferry between Sri Lanka and India is scheduled to commence operations tomorrow (Oct 10), it was reported.

The ferry service will operate from Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu, India to Kankesanthurai port in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka.

Indian media reported in September that the passenger terminal was being set up at the Nagapattinam Port and that the works were to be completed ahead of the commencement of the ferry service.

The route would cover a distance of 60 nautical miles and the ferry would have at least 150 passengers with the journey taking around two hours. 

The operations would be initiated by the Shipping Corporation of India and controlled by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). (NewsWire)

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The Sri Lanka Navy has commenced the expansion of the Kankasanthurai harbour facility in support of the new ferry service to be launched between Sri Lanka and India.

The Navy stated that the government of Sri Lanka launched a project for a passenger ferry service between the port of Kankasanthurai in Sri Lanka and Pondicherry in India to provide a more affordable and convenient mode of transportation.

In support of this project, the Sri Lanka Navy has commenced facility expansion of the Kankasanthurai harbour, with a view to accommodate more traffic and provide better infrastructure.

The Navy stated it is committed to nurturing a stable ocean region for the safe conduct of economic activities in Sri Lankan waters. In addition, the Navy has often made its skilled manpower, efficiency and technical expertise available for the overall progress and prosperity of the nation.

Following the directives of the Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera, the Sri Lanka Navy has taken an active role in supporting the expansion of the Kankasanthurai harbour facility by enabling its manpower and expertise, in response to a request of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation.

Accordingly, the project got underway on 01st February, with skilled manpower and industrial expertise enabled by the Navy.

Thus, the Sri Lanka Navy has undertaken the construction of a passenger terminal for immigration and customs clearance of people who intend to use this passenger ferry service. Required materials for the construction work are provided by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.

Presently, a group of 60 naval personnel are engaged in the construction of a 1000 square meter passenger terminal, under the supervision of naval civil engineering officers. The construction work of the passenger terminal will be completed soon and thereupon the facility will be handed over to the Sri Lanka Ports Authority for its operational purposes.

The passenger ferry service project is part of a larger effort to strengthen longstanding ties between India and Sri Lanka, with a focus on improving tourism.

The Navy stated that its contribution towards prompt implementation of the project, will not only save a lot of public money but also enable the public to enjoy the expected benefits of this project in due course. (NewsWire)

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