A teenager who posted a video of himself licking a straw and returning it to an iJooz vending machine was fined S$600 (US$465) for public nuisance on Thursday (Jul 30).

The clip had gone viral after someone in his Instagram circle recorded it and forwarded the footage to a media outlet, the defence said.

Didier Gaspard Owen Maximilien, a 19-year-old French national, pleaded guilty to one count of public nuisance, with a second charge of mischief taken into consideration.

On Mar 12 this year, Maximilien attended a boxing session at Goldhill Centre.

After this, he went to an iJooz vending machine there and bought a drink.

He took a straw from the machine, licked about half of it and placed the contaminated straw back on the straw dispenser, filming the process.

He then collected the drink, took the contaminated straw and left.

Maximilien later edited the footage and uploaded it to Instagram.

The act caused iJooz to replace all 500 straws in the dispenser, worth S$5 in total, the charge states.

BOTH SIDES CALL FOR FINE

The prosecution was in agreement with the defence that a fine was suitable.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Maximilian Chew, who took over the case from a state prosecuting officer, said a fine would suffice because of Maximilien’s youth and the circumstances of the case.

He left the quantum to the court’s discretion.

The previous hearing had been adjourned for the prosecution to check the status of Maximilien’s student pass on conviction.

“I understand that ICA will make that decision having regard to all relevant considerations including circumstances of the case and the outcome of today’s proceedings,” said Mr Chew.

He added that the prosecution’s sentencing position is therefore independent of the outcome of Maximilien’s student pass. 

Defence lawyer Kalidass Murugaiyan said the defence had considered pushing for probation or a community-based sentence.

However, the family has trouble getting someone to be a guardian for him in Singapore, as his father is working in France, so there will be logistical difficulties for him to be on probation.

“The contaminated straw was not used by anyone,” said the lawyer. 

“Unfortunately, he made the decision to share it within his Instagram circle … someone in his circle, within his Instagram circle of contacts, had taken a screen video of it and forwarded it to a media outlet and that’s how it went viral.”

He said this was to explain how it became something that “may have caused public disquiet”.

“He’s truly sorry for having caused all this trouble and he realises that what appeared to him at that time as something perhaps playful has turned out to be something very consequential and his family has also counselled him on the importance of taking responsibility for his actions,” said Mr Murugaiyan.

He said the teenager’s parents have “every intention” of ensuring he pays the fine.

District Judge Kelly Ho said probation or other community-based sentences should ordinarily be the port of call given Maximilien’s age and the nature and circumstances of the case.

However, given the practical and logistical difficulties, she agreed a fine was suitable and agreed with the figure submitted by the defence.

The prosecution did not seek a compensation order.

For public nuisance, he could have been jailed for up to three months, fined up to S$2,000, or both. (CNA)

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The Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) announced that eleven reporting institutions have been fined a total of Rs. 14.6 million for failing to comply with provisions of the Financial Transactions Reporting Act (FTRA), No. 6 of 2006 between October 2025 and March 2026.

The FIU, acting as Sri Lanka’s regulator for Anti‑Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT), imposed administrative penalties under Sections 19(1) and 19(2) of the Act. 

The penalties were determined based on the nature and gravity of the non‑compliance identified at the institutions.

The Central Bank confirmed that all money collected as penalties has been credited to the Consolidated Fund.

According to the Central Bank, the enforcement action is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen compliance among reporting institutions and ensure the integrity of Sri Lanka’s financial system. (Newswire)

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Three pharmacy owners and a pharmacist in the Colombo area have been fined nearly Rs. 250,000 by the Maligakanda Additional Magistrate after pleading guilty to multiple charges including selling expired medicines intended for children and operating pharmacies without licensed pharmacists.

According to reports, raids carried out by a team led by Neville Wickramasinghe, Chief Food and Drug Inspector of the National Medicines Regulatory Authority, resulted in the arrests. 

The accused admitted guilt to the charges filed against them, leading to the penalties imposed.

The convicted offenders are linked to pharmacies in Maradana, Colombo 15, and Colombo 14. 

They faced charges of selling expired medicines, running pharmacies without pharmacists or licenses, issuing drugs without prescriptions, storing unregistered medicines, and keeping samples meant for doctors.

Four separate cases have been filed under these violations. (Newswire)

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The Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court yesterday (28) imposed a fine of Rs. 100,000 on a vendor for selling drinking water bottles above the maximum retail price at the canteen of the ‘Meenagaya’ train.

According to the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA), investigations revealed that the stipulated maximum retail price for a 1000 ml water bottle is Rs. 100. 

However, the vendor had sold the bottles for Rs. 160, overcharging passengers on the Colombo to Batticaloa train by Rs. 60.

The raid was conducted by an investigating officer from the CAA, who posed as a regular customer and purchased the overpriced bottle before taking action. (Newswire/ AI image)

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Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama today (24 Feb) imposed a fine of Rs. 10,000 on a young woman who pleaded guilty to recording video footage of her father giving evidence in court.

The woman, a resident of Colombo, was fined after police reported that she had used her mobile phone to film her father testifying at the Colombo No. 2 Additional Magistrate’s Court.

A police officer on court duty had observed the incident, seized the suspect’s mobile phone, and handed her over to the Keselwatta Police. 

Investigators informed the court that the footage had been recorded without permission.

When the case was taken up today, the suspect pleaded guilty, leading to the fine being imposed. 

The Magistrate also warned her against engaging in such unlawful acts in the future and ordered that the video footage be deleted from her phone. (Newswire)

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The Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court has imposed a fine of Rs. 10,000 on a businessman operating in Old Moor Street, Colombo 12, after a raid conducted by the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) revealed he was illegally selling imported turmeric without proper importer, distributor, or supplier information.

In addition to the fine, the court ordered the confiscation and destruction of 19 packs of turmeric chunks, each weighing 25 kilograms, valued at approximately Rs. 2 million. 

According to the CAA, the stock had been stored in violation of the law and was deemed unfit for human consumption at the time of judgment. (Newswire)

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The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has imposed a fine of Rs. 600,000 on a business establishment in the Kolonnawa area, found guilty of selling a bottle of drinking water at a price exceeding the government-controlled rate.

The case was filed by the Narahenpita District Office of the Consumer Affairs Authority.

The accused business had sold a 500ml bottle of drinking water, priced at the controlled rate of Rs. 70, for Rs. 90, thereby committing an offence under consumer protection regulations.

At yesterday’s hearing, the accused establishment pleaded guilty before the court.

Prior to sentencing, investigation officers from the Consumer Affairs Authority informed the court that, under the law, fines for such offences could range from a minimum of Rs. 500,000 to a maximum of Rs. 5,000,000.

After reviewing the facts presented, the Magistrate imposed a fine of Rs. 600,000 on the business. (Newswire)

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The Cabinet has approved a proposal to amend fines imposed under the Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Act No. 47 of 1956.

The Act prohibits the employment of children under 16 and regulates the work of those aged 16 to 18, banning their engagement in hazardous occupations that threaten health, safety, or morals.

Currently, violators face a maximum fine of Rs. 10,000 or imprisonment of up to 12 months, or both, along with compensation to the affected child. 

The Labour Ministry noted that the penalty has become insufficient, prompting the move to increase fines in line with International Labour Organization conventions 138 and 182 ratified by Sri Lanka. (Newswire)

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The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today fined a private company in Colombo for selling a bottle of drinking water over the stipulated maximum retail price. 

According to the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA), the court imposed a fine of Rs. 500,000 on the private company.

The CAA further said that the company had sold a bottle of drinking water priced at Rs. 70 for Rs. 200. (Newswire)

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The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has collected Rs. 6.5 million in fines from three financial institutions from January to June 2025.

According to the CBSL, the fines were imposed on National Savings Bank, Bally’s Limited, and Bellagio Limited to enforce compliance on the institutions.

Issuing a statement, the CBSL said that by virtue of the powers vested under Section 19 (1) read together with Section 19 (2) of the Financial Transactions Reporting Act, No. 6 of 2006 (FTRA), financial penalties are imposed on Institutions for non-compliance with the provisions of the FTRA. 

The penalty may be prescribed by taking into consideration the nature and gravity of relevant non-compliances of the Institutions. 

Accordingly, as Sri Lanka’s regulator for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT), the FIU collected penalties of Rs. 6. 5 million in total from January to June 2025 to enforce compliance on Institutions. 

The Central Bank added that the money collected as penalties was credited to the Consolidated Fund. (Newswire)

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The Department of Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management says legal provisions will be introduced to enable the imposition of annual fines for unauthorized constructions along the country’s coastline. 

According to News First, Director General of the department, Terney Pradeep Kumara, noted that there are also plans to issue annual permits for such unauthorized constructions.

He further said that one of the key objectives of this initiative is to prevent damage to protected coastal areas by removing illegal constructions within such zones. (Newswire)

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The Colombo Additional Magistrate has imposed a fine of Rs. 100,000 on a shop owner on the ground floor of the Colombo Lotus Tower for selling a bottle of drinking water at a price higher than the Maximum Retail Price of Rs. 80.

The suspect was arrested during a raid conducted by the Consumer Affairs Authority’s (CAA) investigation unit, based on a complaint received.

CAA Officials informed the court that the suspect had sold a 500 ML bottled drinking water, priced at Rs. 80, for Rs. 150, in violation of the MRP regulation.

They further stated that a gazette notification issued to protect consumers from exploitation has officially banned the sale of bottled water above the government-controlled price. (Newswire)

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The Police say legal action has been initiated against over 4000 motorists for traffic violations based on evidence obtained from CCTV cameras installed in Colombo City.

According to the Police, the motorists have been informed of their traffic violation via a letter sent to their residences, after which legal action has been initiated.

The initiative to identify traffic violations through CCTV cameras installed in and around Colombo City commenced on 1 February 2024.

As of 20 April this year, a total of 4,048 motorists have been imposed fines or legal action has been taken, they said.

The Sri Lanka Police says the program will be continued going forward.

A social media user had recently shared a letter issued by the Police regarding a traffic violation.

Referred to as the Traffic Rule Violation Notice, it is issued by the Police station in the area of the offence, the location, vehicle number, date, time, and the nature of the offence, along with an image of the vehicle involved.

The notice also contains acknowledgments of both the OIC of the Police Station in which the offence was recorded and the motorist. (Newswire)

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The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has announced the administrative penalties imposed by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) on two Reporting Institutions from November to December 2024. 

According to the Central Bank, financial penalties are imposed on Institutions for non-compliance under the provisions of the Financial Transactions Reporting Act, No. 6 of 2006 (FTRA).

The FIU has collected penalties amounting to Rs. 3 million in total from November to December 2024 to enforce compliance on the institutions. 

The Central Bank added that the money collected as penalties was credited to the Consolidated Fund. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has imposed a fine of US$ 10,000 on former cricket captain Dasun Shanaka for breaching contractual obligations. 

Imposing the fine, the SLC states that Dasun Shanaka had requested three days’ leave citing an injury sustained during a domestic match played on 02 February 2025, but had during that period participated in a foreign franchise league match in Dubai.

Stating that it had taken into consideration the cricketer’s written response and apology, the SLC said, however, that the Executive Committee has determined that Dasun Shanaka’s actions constitute a breach of contractual obligations. 

As such, the SLC Executive Committee has decided to impose a fine of US$ 10,000 as a disciplinary measure and has instructed the cricketer to settle the fine on or before 28 February 2025.

The SLC has also warned Dasun Shanaka that a failure to comply may result in further disciplinary action. 

Former Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka reportedly suffered a neck injury while playing in Sri Lanka in February.

At the time, it was reported that the match referee had been informed that Shanaka, playing for the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC), had suffered an injury during the game against Moors Sports Club.

SSC sources stated that Shanaka does not regularly play red-ball cricket but voluntarily joined the match as SSC was facing relegation and had left the game only after receiving a medical report advising him to rest.

Later that evening, he travelled to Dubai, expecting to be available for the International League T20 (ILT20) according to his contract. However, since he felt fit to play, he underwent a final medical assessment on the same night and was cleared to take the field for Dubai Capitals later that day.

However, his participation came under fire after it was revealed that he left a Premier League Tier A match of the SSC before its completion.

With conflicting reports about his injury status and departure from the SSC match, SLC conducted an inquiry to determine whether all protocols were properly followed or if any rules were violated. (Newswire)

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The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has collected penalties amounting to Rs. 2.75 million in total from three institutions for non-compliance with the provisions of the Financial Transactions Reporting Act (FTRA). 

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka said the penalties were collected from MCB Bank Ltd, Bank of China Ltd, and Vogue Jewellers (Pvt) Ltd from May to October 2024. 

The Central Bank went on to note that by virtue of the powers vested under Section 19 (1) read together with section 19 (2) of the FTRA, penalties are imposed on Institutions for non-compliance with the provisions of the FTRA. 

The penalty may be prescribed taking into consideration the nature and gravity of relevant non-compliance of the Institutions.

Accordingly, as Sri Lanka’s regulator for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism, the FIU collected the said penalties to enforce compliance on Institutions. 

The Central Bank added that the money collected as penalties was credited to the Consolidated Fund. (Newswire)

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The Colombo High Court has imposed a fine of Rs. 09 million on the three sureties of a person identified as Rajitha Asantha, who is currently evading the court.

The accused, Rajitha Asantha is facing charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act for failing to disclose assets and property of over Rs. 10 million acquired through trafficking heroin.

When the accused was previously presented before the Court, three persons identified as Thushara Indrajith, Amila Fernando and Mohammad Ikram appeared as sureties for the accused.

The court was informed that the three men had signed surety bonds of Rs. 10 million each.

However, the three sureties had been summoned before the court due to the defendant having evaded his case hearings.

During the recent court hearing, the Colombo High Court judge pointed out that if a person appears as a surety on behalf of a suspect or an accused, the relevant surety is bound by law to present the accused to the court.

As the three sureties had failed to produce the accused in court, the judge ordered that a fine of Rs. 03 million be imposed on each of them, amounting to Rs. 09 million. (Newswire)

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The Seychelles Supreme Court has convicted a Sri Lankan national to a fine of US$ 41,000 after being found guilty of illegally fishing in the island nation’s territorial waters, it was reported.

According to Seychelles News Agency, the police said on Wednesday that Makavita Liyanage Dilesh, 43, was the person in charge of the vessel Rankurulla 4 that was intercepted and arrested in the Seychelles Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) on November 24 last year.

The presiding judge in the case took into consideration that the accused pled guilty and did not waste the court’s time. The convict is a married man with two children still at school and his family depends on his revenue to survive.

The Sri Lankan national revealed to the Court that the fish they caught was taken and sold for a sum of SCR 35,320 which was collected by the Seychelles Fishing Authority.

The fine is payable within 60 days if not, the convict will do a term of 18 months in prison.

Meanwhile, earlier this month 18 foreign vessels were intercepted and arrested in the Seychelles’ EEZ among which was a vessel from Sri Lanka, carrying eight crew members.

Seychelles, an archipelago in the western Indian Ocean, has a vast Exclusive Economic Zone of 1.4 million square kilometres which presents a challenge when it comes to monitoring illegal activities in the island nation’s waters. (NewsWire)

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The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has collected penalties amounting to Rs. 14 million in total from three financial institutions.

According to the CBSL, the FIU collected the penalties from 27 September to 31 December 2023 to enforce compliance on the Financial Institutions. 

The penalties were collected from MMBL Money Transfer (Pvt) Ltd, Bank of Ceylon, and People’s Bank.

The CBSL said by the powers vested under Section 19 (1) read together with Section 19 (2) of the Financial Transactions Reporting Act, No. 6 of 2006 (FTRA), financial penalties are imposed on Institutions for non-compliance with the provisions of the FTRA. 

The penalty may be prescribed taking into consideration the nature and gravity of the relevant non-compliance, it added.

Accordingly, as Sri Lanka’s regulator for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT), the FIU collected the penalties has credited it to the Consolidated Fund. 

Full report : https://rb.gy/h727t1 (NewsWire)

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The Department of Motor Traffic says fines will be imposed on those who purchase vehicles and use them without registering them under their names.

The Commissioner General of the department said the vehicle must be registered within 14 days of purchase, adding that thereafter, a fine of Rs. 100 will be imposed per day. 

Anuruddha Weerasingha said that the measures are being taken in line with the Police CCTV camera initiative to trace traffic offenders in Colombo, which came into effect yesterday.

He said under the program, the fines for those found guilty will be sent to the address of the registered owner of the vehicle. 

Anuruddha Weerasingha further said that this program will allow the department to identify unregistered vehicles. (NewsWire)

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