Officers of the Police Narcotics Bureau Katunayake Airport Sub‑Unit have arrested a suspect attempting to smuggle 220 cartons of foreign cigarettes into the country.

The raid was carried out at the arrival terminal of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) last night (13) following a tip‑off. 

Officials intercepted the suspect in possession of 44,000 foreign cigarettes illegally brought into Sri Lanka.

The suspect, identified as a 35‑year‑old Indian national, was taken into custody.

The Police Narcotics Bureau Airport Unit has launched further investigations into the incident. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka Customs officers arrested a 29‑year‑old Indian national after seizing 4.389 kilos of marijuana/hashish concealed in his luggage.

The suspect, a business employee, had arrived from Bangkok, Thailand, on Tuesday (12).

Customs Narcotics Control Unit officials intercepted him at the Bandaranaike International Airport’s green channel arrival, with two pieces of luggage, where the narcotics were hidden.

The seized stock is valued at Rs. 43,890,000. The suspect and the contraband were handed over to the Police Narcotics Unit for further investigation.

Sri Lanka Customs noted that the arrest came a day after the department surpassed a special milestone in revenue collection for 2026, reaching the Rs.1 trillion mark. (Newswire)

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Three Indian nationals were arrested at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) with 50 kilograms of Kush cannabis, Sri Lanka Customs said.

The narcotics, valued at Rs. 500 million, were seized by officers of the Customs Narcotics Control Unit.

The suspects, aged between 25 and 31, arrived at 11:07 a.m. on SriLankan Airlines flight UL 403 from Bangkok.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the individuals had been offered a trip to Bangkok in exchange for smuggling the drugs.

The cannabis was concealed in 48 packages, each weighing over 1.1 kilograms hidden in three travel bags.

The suspects and the seized drugs have been handed over to the Police Narcotics Division at Katunayake Airport for further investigation. (Newswire)

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Sri Lankan Navy personnel on Tuesday (23 Dec) arrested at least 12 fishermen from Rameswaram and Thangachimadam in Ramanathapuram district on charges of poaching in international waters. 

According to the Indian media, The Hindu, their trawler was impounded.

“The 12 fishermen were engaged in fishing between Dhanushkodi and Talaimannar waters. A surveillance team from Sri Lanka apprehended them and took them to a Naval port in the island nation, along with their trawler,” Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department officials said.

On Monday (22 Dec), about 450 tokens were issued to fishermen from the Rameswaram jetty. The trawler impounded by the Sri Lankan Navy is owned by Jothibas of Manthoppu, Thangachimadam. It is said the boat, though not registered with the authorities, had obtained a token. The 12 fishermen include Prabhat (28), James Heiton (29), and Antony (32), officials said.

Expressing concern over their livelihood, fishermen from the region appealed to the State and Union governments to secure the release of the arrested persons. Fishermen’s associations are likely to convene a meeting on Tuesday and discuss the next course of action. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Navy and Coast Guard seized an Indian fishing boat and apprehended 14 Indian fishermen while they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters off the Analativu Island, Jaffna, last night.

The Northern Naval Command spotted a group of Indian fishing boats engaging in illegal fishing, trespassing into Sri Lankan waters. 

In response, the Northern Naval Command and Sri Lanka Coast Guard deployed their craft to drive away those Indian fishing boats from island waters. 

However, a compliant boarding made by naval personnel resulted in the seizure of the Indian fishing boat and apprehension of 14 Indian fishermen who continued to engage in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters.

The fishing boat, along with the fishermen held in this operation, was handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Mailadi for legal proceedings. (Newswire)

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Two US courts have ordered immigration officials not to deport Subramanyam Vedam, the 64-year-old Indian-origin man who spent four decades in prison before his murder conviction was overturned earlier this year. Vedam was nine months old when he came to the US with his parents legally from India. He grew up in State College, where his father taught at Penn State.

An immigration judge stayed his deportation on Thursday until the Bureau of Immigration Appeals decides whether to review his case. That could take several months. Vedam’s lawyers also got a stay the same day in the US District Court in Pennsylvania but said that the case may be on hold given the immigration court ruling.

A False Case

Known by his relatives as “Subu”, Vedam is a legal permanent resident of the US and, according to his lawyer, had his citizenship application accepted before his arrest in 1982 in a murder case. Vedam was accused of killing his friend Thomas Kinser in 1980. He was the last person seen with Kinser and was twice convicted of killing him, despite a lack of witnesses or motive.

In August, a judge overturned his conviction after Vedam’s lawyers found new ballistics evidence that prosecutors had never disclosed.

He was set to walk free from a Pennsylvania prison on October 3 after waiting more than four decades to clear his name but was taken straight into immigration custody.

Vedam is currently detained at a short-term holding centre in Alexandria, Louisiana, that’s equipped with an airstrip for deportations. He was transferred there from central Pennsylvania last week, his relatives told the Associated Press.

Why ICE Wants To Deport Subu

The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is seeking to deport Vedam over his no-contest plea to charges of LSD delivery, filed when he was about 20. His lawyers argue that the four decades he wrongly spent in prison, where he earned degrees and tutored fellow inmates, should outweigh the drug case.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said Monday that the reversal in the murder case does not negate the drug conviction.

“Having a single conviction vacated will not stop ICE’s enforcement of the federal immigration law,” Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, said in an email.

Family’s Plea

Vedam’s sister said Monday that the family is relieved “that two different judges have agreed that Subu’s deportation is unwarranted while his effort to reopen his immigration case is still pending.”

“We’re also hopeful that the Board of Immigration Appeals will ultimately agree that Subu’s deportation would represent another untenable injustice,” Saraswathi Vedam said, “inflicted on a man who not only endured 43 years in a maximum-security prison for a crime he didn’t commit, but has also lived in the US since he was 9 months old.” (NDTV)

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A 39-year-old Indian national has been arrested by officers of the Customs Narcotics Control Division at Katunayake Airport with a stock of heroin valued at Rs. 84.96 million.

According to the authorities, the man had arrived from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, at 4:15 pm yesterday (26).

The Sri Lankan authorities have discovered 2.832 kilos of heroin in his possession, concealed in his luggage. 

Preliminary investigations revealed that the narcotics were intended to be handed over to local drug agents at a hotel in Bambalapitiya, Colombo.

The suspect is scheduled to be presented before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court today (27). (Newswire)

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An Indian national has been arrested at the Katunayake Airport for attempting to smuggle 10.75kg of ‘kush’ worth Rs. 105 million into Sri Lanka. 

The suspect, a 43-year-old man, was arrested while attempting to pass through the Green Channel, which is for tourists who have nothing to declare. 

According to reports, this is the first arrest to be made using the Green Channel’s newly installed scanning machine. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Navy has seized 01 Indian fishing boat with 18 Indian fishermen for poaching in Sri Lankan waters. 

According to the Navy, the arrest was made during a special operation conducted off Veththalakerni in Jaffna yesterday.

When the apprehension was made, the fishing boat had crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line by approximately 30 nautical miles, entering Sri Lankan waters.

As part of the Navy’s continuous patrols and operations in Sri Lankan waters to curb illegal fishing practices, the Northern Naval Command deployed Fast Attack Craft attached to the Command to send away a cluster of Indian fishing boats, having spotted that they were engaging in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters off Veththalakerni. 

The operation resulted in the seizure of 01 Indian fishing boat with 18 Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan waters.

The seized boat together with the Indian fishermen were brought to the Kankesanthurai Harbour, where they were handed over to the Regional Director of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard Northern Region for legal action.

With this recent apprehension, the Navy and Coast Guard have seized a total of 66 Indian fishing boats and arrested 515 Indian fishermen for poaching in Sri Lankan waters, so far in 2024. (Newswire)

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In the picturesque villages of Uttarakhand, almost 30 women, wives of the ‘Gadaria’ shepherds, are now proudly introducing Kullu border shawls to the world. This achievement, facilitated by the handloom brand Bunkar, is more than a job opportunity; it’s a source of identity and recognition for these women and their community. E-commerce has been a catalyst for this transformation, unlocking not only business opportunities but also a powerful shift in community pride, empowering women across India. 

Consider the story of 45-year-old Paliben. Once a rag collector at a textile mill, she meticulously transformed waste into beautiful, handmade items like paper-mesh jewellery and decorative pen stands. Initially, she sold these creations at local exhibitions. However, with the advent of e-commerce, she digitized her venture, opening a new chapter of growth and success. 

Historically, rural women in India have been largely excluded from the economic mainstream due to limited access to resources, markets, and financial independence. However, e-commerce has opened up a vast, borderless marketplace. Programmes like Amazon Saheli, launched in 2017, are tailored to uplift rural and small-town women entrepreneurs by providing them with the tools to set up, manage, and expand online businesses. By streamlining the process of selling online, these platforms break down geographical constraints, allowing women to tap into national—and even international—markets from the comfort of their homes. 

With this expanded reach, rural women entrepreneurs are no longer bound by the limitations of local demand, creating substantial earning potential that was previously unattainable. As a result, we see an increase in self-reliant women who are contributing to their family’s income and reinvesting in their communities, helping fuel the rural economy. According to a Bain & Company report, India boasts the world’s third-largest online shopper base, with a staggering 180-190 million online shoppers in 2021. This number is projected to surpass the US and claim the second spot within the next two years. 

With a vast pool of 63 million MSMEs, of which 20% are women-owned, India has a significant opportunity to create millions of jobs. By accelerating women’s entrepreneurship, the country could potentially generate over 30 million women-owned enterprises, creating 150 to 170 million jobs. The past five years have witnessed a remarkable shift towards online business, with 83% of Indian small businesses adopting digital platforms. A significant 65% of these businesses now generate up to half of their revenue through online sales. This trend underscores the immense potential for women entrepreneurs to thrive in India’s rapidly expanding digital marketplace. 

Training and digital literacy

Programmes designed to empower rural women through e-commerce offer comprehensive training in digital skills, product management, and financial literacy. For example, Amazon has partnered with organizations like the DEASRA Foundation, SEWA, and TATA Power to provide educational resources that enhance women’s digital literacy and entrepreneurial skills. With easy access to training modules on photography, packaging, customer engagement, and pricing strategies, these women can successfully navigate the online marketplace, establishing a lasting presence for their products and brands. 

This digital literacy extends to the basics of using smartphones and applications, which is critical as many women entrepreneurs primarily rely on mobile devices. Streamlining app interfaces for simplicity, companies are making it easier for rural women to manage their online businesses. Consequently, these women gain the confidence to handle their digital storefronts independently, reducing dependence on intermediaries and further empowering their entrepreneurial journey. 

For example, I Village, a social enterprise, has partnered with Amazon Saheli to empower rural women by connecting them to online markets. They provide training in various skills, from making incense sticks to basic computer skills and stitching. By honing these traditional skills, women from villages like Bulandshahar, Uttar Pradesh, can now earn a sustainable income. I Village’s efforts have not only empowered women to become first-time breadwinners but have also educated the masses on the importance of women’s empowerment. 

Financial empowerment and independence 

One of the most impactful aspects of e-commerce is its potential to alleviate the financial constraints that rural women often face. Traditionally, women have had limited access to capital, and financial decisions are frequently controlled by men in many rural households. However, e-commerce platforms offer a range of support measures—digital payment integration, transparent revenue tracking, and direct bank transfers—that enhance financial independence for these entrepreneurs. 

Initiatives run by e-commerce marketplaces also play a vital role in setting achievable sales targets and monitoring growth metrics, enabling rural women entrepreneurs to strategize for their businesses proactively. The regular inflow of earnings through digital payments offers a stable source of income, fostering financial resilience and reinforcing the shift towards economic independence. In the long term, this financial autonomy has far-reaching effects, allowing these women to make critical decisions for their businesses and families with confidence.

Addressing social and cultural barriers

Empowering rural women entrepreneurs through e-commerce goes beyond economic benefits; it fosters social empowerment and shifts cultural narratives. As these women entrepreneurs step into the roles of financial decision-makers and business leaders, they challenge and gradually reshape the traditional gender roles in their communities. Families and communities begin to view women as valuable contributors, leading to a broader acceptance of female entrepreneurship in rural areas.
Moreover, the collaborative nature of e-commerce often encourages women to join local self-help groups (SHGs), where they can share knowledge, network, and support each other’s ventures. Events like E-commerce Facilitation Melas have been instrumental in connecting SHGs with e-commerce platforms, helping women collaborate and build a supportive ecosystem. This network of like-minded entrepreneurs not only creates a shared learning environment but also amplifies their collective bargaining power, enabling them to negotiate better terms and access new opportunities. 

A holistic growth story: Economic, social, and personal 

 For rural women in India, e-commerce is more than just a pathway to entrepreneurship. It represents an avenue for holistic growth that encompasses skill acquisition, financial literacy, independence, and social empowerment. In the process, rural women are becoming role models within their communities, encouraging the next generation to pursue similar avenues of growth and economic participation.

While challenges remain—such as regional tax variations, logistical issues, and technical literacy barriers—the momentum of change is undeniable. Companies and government programs alike are investing in infrastructure and training and are determined to scale e-commerce initiatives across underserved areas. As these women succeed, the benefits extend beyond their households, stimulating the rural economy and fostering a culture of inclusivity and empowerment.

The future of rural India is brighter with women at the helm of their own ventures, steering both their personal and professional lives toward growth and resilience. As the e-commerce sector expands its reach, it promises a transformative impact on rural women, their families, and entire communities—one that reverberates across the economy, bridging social divides and laying the foundation for a more equitable and prosperous India.

In this journey, platforms like Amazon Saheli serve as crucial stepping stones, turning what were once barriers into bridges that connect rural women with the world. Through continuous support, targeted skill development, and a commitment to digital inclusion, e-commerce is poised to bring holistic growth to rural India’s women—a growth that promises not only financial success but a deep-rooted social transformation for generations to come. (WION)

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The newly appointed High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha visited Kandy on Thursday (Jan 18), highlighting the expanse of India -Sri Lanka relations.

According to the Indian High Commission in Colombo, the High Commissioner sought blessings of the Mahanayaka Theros of Asgiriya and Malwatte chapters, Most Ven. Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Mahanayaka Thero and Most Ven. Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Mahanayaka Thero respectively. 

High Commissioner Jha underlined that Buddhism was central to the age-old connection between the people of India and Sri Lanka and briefed the Mahanayaka Theros on various initiatives undertaken by the Government of India (GoI) to strengthen bilateral Buddhist ties. He specifically mentioned that measures are being carried out expeditiously to roll out solar electrification of Temples across the country through GoI assistance.

He offered prayers at the sacred Dalada Maligawa for the prosperity and well-being of the people of the two countries and also for a stronger and deeper connection between them.

The Indian High Commission further said, he also prayed for closer bilateral relations through further diversification in both scale and scope at Kataragama Dewalaya.  

High Commissioner Jha visited Hanthana Estate and took stock of the Indian Housing Project. While the Indian Government has already built 50 houses in the Estate under the third phase, more housing units are being constructed in the next phase of the Project. Overall, the Indian Government has committed to 14,000 new houses for plantation workers in the two phases of the project.

The High Commissioner also inaugurated an Ayurveda camp, aimed at the physical well-being of the plantation workers. He also distributed study materials and umbrellas to school-going children in the Estate. He remarked that these are keeping in line with the Indian Government’s firm commitment to the overall upliftment of the plantation workers and the Indian-origin Tamil community in particular.

The Indian High Commission pointed out that a multi-sectoral grant package to the tune of Rs. 3 billion was announced by the Indian Government during the visit of President Ranil Wickremesinghe to India in July 2023. (NewsWire)

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