<ul><li>Draft report to be circulated among members before submission to P’ment</li></ul>The Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) investigating the release of 323 shipping containers from the Port of Colombo without mandatory physical inspections has concluded its inquiry and is finalising its report, which is expected to be presented to Parliament within the next few weeks, The Sunday Morning learns.Speaking to The Sunday Morning, a committee member said that the investigative phase had concluded, although a date for presenting the report to Parliament had yet to be confirmed.“The committee is working on it at the moment and the full report will be presented to Parliament within the next few weeks,” the member said.The member added that the draft would first be circulated among committee members and their recommendations would be incorporated into the final report before it is presented to the House.The controversy concerns the release of 323 containers from the Port of Colombo without mandatory physical Customs inspections, raising questions about clearance procedures and oversight within Sri Lanka Customs and port operations.Whistleblowers and Opposition legislators questioned how containers potentially carrying high-risk or restricted goods had been cleared without the required checks. They alleged that numerous red- and yellow-labelled containers requiring scanning and physical examination had been released under questionable circumstances.Critics warned that bypassing these checks could facilitate tax evasion and smuggling, resulting in losses to State revenue and allowing goods to enter the country without adequate scrutiny.Following public concern and calls for an investigation in Parliament, the House established the Parliamentary Select Committee to look into and report on the release of 323 containers from the Port of Colombo.Initially chaired by Minister of Justice and National Integration Harshana Nanayakkara, the committee was constituted under parliamentary Standing Orders to include up to 12 legislators representing different parties. Its membership included MPs Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Arkam Ilyas, Najith Indika, Dayasiri Jayasekara, Ajith P. Perera, Sunil Watagala, and Lakmali Hemachandra, among others.At its inaugural meeting on 21 January, the committee planned weekly sittings to hear evidence from key State officials, including the Director General of Sri Lanka Customs and other senior Customs representatives.The committee was initially required to complete its inquiry and present its findings within three months. However, delays involving witnesses prolonged the proceedings. Parliament subsequently approved a resolution in April extending the committee’s mandate to allow it to complete the investigation.&nbsp;

PSC report on 323 containers due in weeks

<ul><li>1,000 double cabs, 175 tractors, 160 tippers, 100 gully emptiers to be procured</li><li>Foreign bidders barred; stringent financial and experience criteria imposed</li></ul> The Government has called for bids to procure 1,435 brand-new vehicles and machinery, including 1,000 double cabs, 175 tractors, 160 tippers, and 100 gully emptiers, with tender documents revealing stringent eligibility requirements and the exclusion of foreign bidders.&nbsp;According to four procurement documents examined by The Sunday Morning, the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development has initiated the purchases through its Standing High-Level Procurement Committee under the National Competitive Bidding procedure, with all four tenders scheduled to close between 20 and 22 October.The procurements require bid securities totalling Rs. 298 million for one bid under each tender, while prospective suppliers must show substantial turnover, credit facility, and previous sales requirements to qualify.The largest procurement involves 1,000 brand-new automatic transmission four-wheel-drive diesel double cabs, for which bidders must demonstrate an average annual turnover of at least Rs. 8 billion and access to financial resources amounting to Rs. 5 billion.They must also have supplied and maintained at least 500 double cabs of the proposed make locally during the past 10 years and possess at least 10 service and repair centres, including five owned and operated by the bidder.The double cab tender requires a Rs. 250 million bid security and a non-refundable document&nbsp; fee of Rs. 500,000. Bids close at 2 p.m. on 22 October.Meanwhile, the ministry has invited bids for 175 brand-new two-wheel-drive tractors, requiring bidders to have supplied and maintained at least 300 tractors of the proposed make locally over the past decade.The tractor tender stipulates a minimum of 25 islandwide service and repair centres, an average annual turnover of Rs. 500 million, and a Rs. 300 million credit facility. The required bid security is Rs. 7 million, with bids closing at 11 a.m. on 21 October.Under another tender, the Government plans to purchase 160 brand-new tippers, with bidders required to demonstrate an average annual turnover of Rs. 1.5 billion and obtain a Rs. 1 billion bank credit facility.Suppliers must also establish that they have supplied and maintained at least 300 tippers of the proposed make locally during the preceding 10 years and maintain at least 10 service and repair centres islandwide.The tender carries a Rs. 25 million bid security and a Rs. 300,000 non-refundable document fee. Bids close at 2 p.m. on 21 October.A fourth tender seeks 100 brand-new 4,000-litre emptiers, with prospective suppliers required to demonstrate an average annual turnover of Rs. 1.2 billion and a Rs. 400 million credit facility.Bidders must have supplied and maintained at least 50 chassis cabs of the proposed make, including five brand-new gully emptiers, during the previous decade. The tender requires a Rs. 16 million bid security and a non-refundable document fee of Rs. 150,000.Significantly, all four tenders restrict participation to authorised local agents nominated by the respective manufacturers, with foreign bidders expressly excluded.The financial and technical requirements raise questions over the number of local suppliers capable of qualifying for the contracts and the extent of competition likely to emerge during the bidding process.&nbsp;

Govt. calls bids for over 1,400 vehicles

<ul><li>CBSL and LankaPay outline plans to COPF</li></ul> A central fraud monitoring system is planned to be established by September 2027, which will require individual banks to establish supplementary controls of their own, Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) and LankaPay officials told the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) last week.&nbsp;The measures aim to prevent future incidents such as major financial anomalies, collusive balance concealment, and widespread cyber scams.The policy framework was outlined at a COPF hearing chaired by Dr. Harsha de Silva.&nbsp;The inquiry found that existing supervisory mechanisms failed to detect a multi-billion-rupee imbalance at the National Development Bank (NDB) until its audited financial statements were finalised. Lawmakers warned that without deep anomaly analytics and coordinated technical oversight, sophisticated fraud schemes would continue to outpace traditional regulation.The push to overhaul national fraud oversight was triggered by an unprecedented balance accumulation at NDB.&nbsp;Regulators noted that interbank settlement balances typically averaged between Rs. 1 billion and Rs. 3 billion. Over a four-day year-end window spanning consecutive holidays, however, an unhedged balance at NDB surged from an earlier Rs. 3.1 billion to between Rs. 12.1 billion and Rs. 13 billion.CBSL Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe disclosed that colluding insiders had systematically concealed missing balances over a prolonged period by parking them elsewhere ahead of financial reporting deadlines, but had been unable to hide the accumulated Rs. 13 billion when accounts closed at the end of December.CBSL on-site examination teams did not detect the accumulation beforehand. The irregularity was investigated through a spot examination only after the audited accounts, which carried a footnote disclosing the Rs. 12.1 billion figure, were finalised on 31 March.In response to a question raised by Dr. de Silva, LankaPay Chairman Lakshman Silva said that LankaPay had formulated a Request for Proposal (RFP) in consultation with local banking specialists and international fraud experts in order to procure a centralised monitoring platform.&nbsp;“What I can assure you is that the central fraud monitoring system will come on board by around September 2027,” he said.LankaPay officials said that the project had begun two years earlier to track emerging fraud trends, adding that the recent bank incident had expedited its implementation. They emphasised, however, that LankaPay’s infrastructure covered only interbank traffic, noting that the system would monitor only the transactions flowing through its switches.LankaPay further noted that technical architecture alone could not eliminate financial crime without cross-sector coordination.&nbsp;A LankaPay official said that 80–90% of frauds happened through phishing attacks which had nothing to do with financial institutions. He added that telecommunications companies, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka, and law enforcement authorities should come on board in order to eliminate financial crime.Because LankaPay’s switch monitors only interbank transactions, the CBSL has mandated that commercial banks implement separate, supplementary fraud management systems to oversee internal transfers. The directive was formulated through the National Payments Council (NPC).A CBSL official explained that interbank transactions routed through LankaPay were termed ‘off-us’ transactions from a bank’s perspective, while ‘on-us’ transactions, between two parties at the same bank, did not pass through LankaPay.&nbsp;“Therefore, while we are waiting for the central fraud management system from LankaPay, all banks have been required to introduce their own supplementary fraud management system,” the official said.The officials affirmed that they would issue regulatory guidelines and compliance timelines to ensure institutions deployed these internal fraud controls.During the proceedings, Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe and MP Ravi Karunanayake questioned whether standard rules and static compliance reporting could ever detect covert financial manipulation. They also pressed LankaPay on its technological capabilities.Abeysinghe cautioned regulators against relying on conventional policies and accepting institutional assurances at face value.&nbsp;He stressed that regulatory oversight required specialised technical teams with the authority and power to examine core systems directly, warning that without such a team, regulators would not be able to be comfortable with the answers provided by banks.In response, Dr. Weerasinghe acknowledged that financial crime was evolving faster than regulatory frameworks. “Regulators are always trying to improve our skills and competencies, but [financial crime] is evolving much faster. We must always keep our eye on the ball,” he said.He added that the CBSL had established an Artificial Intelligence (AI) hub and sandbox, led by its Statistics Department, to integrate automated analytical tools into supervisory operations.

Central fraud monitoring system due by Sept. 2027

The Government has no information indicating that Sri Lankan crew members are aboard Iranian vessels currently stationed off Sri Lanka’s coast, according to Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku.&nbsp;Responding to a question from The Sunday Morning, Kodithuwakku said: “At the moment, we do not have any information indicating that there are any.”&nbsp;The Merchant Shipping Secretariat also noted that it had received no reports of Sri Lankan crew members serving aboard the vessels. However, attempts to reach the Director General of the secretariat proved futile.&nbsp;&nbsp;Regarding the provision of essential supplies to the vessels, Kodithuwakku stated that the Government had not made a decision to provide such assistance and that the matter was being handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at present.He added that the Government could not prohibit private suppliers from providing goods to the vessels, but warned of the potential implications for the companies that chose to do so.&nbsp;“We cannot prohibit private suppliers from [providing goods]. However, if they engage in such activities, the US could take action against them,” he said, referring to possible secondary sanctions affecting their accounts in the US.&nbsp;Earlier last week, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism Vijitha Herath said that around 47 vessels were located beyond Sri Lanka’s 12-nautical-mile territorial limit, including approximately 19 Iranian vessels, amid navigation difficulties in the Strait of Hormuz.&nbsp;He rejected claims that the US had pressured Sri Lanka not to provide food or water to the vessels, stressing that the Government’s decisions would be guided by the country’s sovereignty, independence, and neutrality.&nbsp;&nbsp;Herath added that Sri Lanka remained prepared to intervene on humanitarian grounds, while noting that the Government had not supplied goods to vessels subject to US sanctions. He said that private sector suppliers were responsible for understanding the circumstances and acting accordingly.&nbsp;

Sanctioned Iranian vessels: No reports of Sri Lankan crew aboard: Govt.

Anojan Sivarasa, the Sri Lankan detainee facing the death penalty in Saudi Arabia, is in a stable condition, with a meeting scheduled for Friday (9) night between the Sri Lankan legal team and Saudi lawyers to finalise his appeal to the Supreme Court (SC), according to President’s Counsel Faiszer Musthapha.&nbsp;Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Musthapha said that the Sri Lankan Ambassador had visited the detainee in prison on Thursday (8) and confirmed that his health condition was under control, with no immediate danger to his life.&nbsp;“The Ambassador went and met him in prison yesterday and his health condition is under control. There is no danger to his life in any form,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;He added that the legal team, comprising Upul Kumarapperuma, Additional Solicitor General Azard Navavi, Hafeel Farisz, and himself, had been in continuous discussions with the lawyers handling the case in Saudi Arabia.“We have been engaging in continuous discussions with the lawyers and we are trying to meet them tonight (9) to finalise the appeal,” Musthapha said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Explaining the legal strategy, Musthapha said that the detainee had initially been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment and fined three million Saudi Riyals by the original court. However, the Court of Appeal subsequently classified the offence as a hadd offence, resulting in the imposition of the death penalty.&nbsp;He explained that a hadd offence was treated under the relevant legal framework as an offence against God, making the case exceptionally difficult to dispute outside of the judicial process.&nbsp;&nbsp;“The purpose of going to the Supreme Court is to get the case sent back to the Court of Appeal on the basis that it is not a hadd offence,” he said.&nbsp;Musthapha said the legal team was seeking to challenge the classification of the offence and have the case reconsidered by the Court of Appeal, with the aim of securing a lesser punishment or, if possible, the detainee’s full exoneration.“If it is hadd or blasphemy, there is no option. Therefore, we are trying to move it away from hadd and see whether we can bring it back to the Court of Appeal so that we can work towards a lesser punishment or try to get him fully exonerated. We are working tirelessly at the moment with the lawyers to get the death penalty removed,” Musthapha said, stressing that the team was pursuing every available legal avenue possible.&nbsp;&nbsp;Referring to the 2013 execution of Sri Lankan national Rizana Nafeek in Saudi Arabia, Musthapha stated that the case highlighted the importance of continuing efforts.&nbsp;&nbsp;“In Rizana Nafeek’s case, everyone thought things were fine, and then the execution happened suddenly; nobody knew about it until they executed her. That is why we are trying to do everything possible to see what we can do to save this detainee,” he said.&nbsp;Musthapha emphasised that the legal team was continuing to coordinate with the Saudi lawyers ahead of the Supreme Court appeal, with the immediate priority being to overturn the death penalty.

SC appeal being finalised for Lankan on death row

Minister of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake on Thursday (8) placed before Parliament a 10-page document that sets out 50 corruption, fraud, and criminal cases involving former ministers, politicians, members of the Rajapaksa family, and senior State officials, as the Government seeks to answer accusations that it is targeting its political rivals.&nbsp;Speaking in the House, Rathnayake maintained that the exercise was not about political revenge and underscored that there would be no room for a corrupt government in the country again.His central argument was one of chronology. He said the cases had not been begun by the present administration, but traced back to complaints and legal proceedings from the 2015–2019 period.&nbsp;He claimed that earlier governments had allowed the investigations to be suppressed through political influence, while investigators today operated free of such interference.&nbsp;The list names former Ministers Johnston Fernando, Wimal Weerawansa, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Basil Rajapaksa, Rajitha Senaratne, Ravi Karunanayake, Prasanna Ranatunga, A.H.M. Fowzie, Bandula Gunawardena, and Rohitha Bogollagama, along with seven members of the Rajapaksa family: Namal, Yoshitha, Gotabaya, Shiranthi, Rohitha, Chamal, and Shasheendra Rajapaksa. It also reaches beyond politicians, as Police officers and businesspeople feature as well.&nbsp;The sums involved vary widely. The largest relates to Nissanka Senadhipathi, over the alleged unlawful possession of firearms through a private security company, with reported losses of Rs. 11.4 billion.&nbsp;Other entries include the Central Bank bond transactions involving former Governor Arjuna Mahendran and businessman Arjun Aloysius, along with Namal Rajapaksa’s alleged receipt of Rs. 70 million from India’s Krrish Group, alleged fraud of over $ 7 million in the MiG-27 procurement, and Rs. 234 million allegedly used to set up the Carlton Sports Network.&nbsp;The document further covers the Easter Sunday attacks, the killings of Lasantha Wickrematunge and Wasim Thajudeen, the disappearance of Prageeth Ekneligoda, and the attacks on journalists Keith Noyahr and Upali Tennakoon.&nbsp;It is the status of these cases, however, that raises the more uncomfortable questions. Rathnayake’s own point about cases lingering for years is borne out by the list. Basil Rajapaksa, accused in relation to Rs. 3 billion in Divi Neguma funds spent on roofing sheets during an election period, was acquitted by the High Court and the Attorney General has appealed.&nbsp;Former Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga was convicted over the use of Rs. 600 million in Telecommunications Regulatory Commission funds to distribute sil cloth during the 2015 Presidential Election, but that conviction is under appeal. Some matters remain at the investigation stage, while others are before appellate courts.&nbsp;In other words, a document meant to demonstrate momentum also shows how few of these cases have reached a final outcome, years after the complaints were made. That is likely to remain the crux of the debate: whether the pace of prosecutions reflects an independent process finally unblocked, as the Government argues, or something slower than the rhetoric suggests.&nbsp;The tabling also comes amid a flurry of court activity involving the Rajapaksa family. Former First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa is in remand custody and the Colombo High Court recently rejected preliminary objections raised in the case against Shasheendra Rajapaksa.&nbsp;

Govt. tables list of 50 cases amid witchhunt allegations

<ul><li>Delegation to strengthen agricultural trade, security cooperation</li></ul>Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, accompanied by First Lady Susan Gianforte and a delegation from the US State of Montana, arrived in Sri Lanka on Friday (9) to expand opportunities for American agricultural exports and deepen security cooperation through the Montana National Guard’s State Partnership Program.Located in the northwestern US, Montana is known for its wide-open landscapes, rich agricultural lands, and Rocky Mountain peaks. It is the leading US producer of pulses such as chickpeas, lentils, and dry peas.&nbsp;The delegation plans to engage with Sri Lankan pulse importers and traders to explore new markets for Montana-grown products, expand opportunities for American farmers, and strengthen commercial ties with Sri Lankan businesses.“From Montana’s farms to Sri Lanka’s Indian Ocean shores, this partnership connects economic opportunity with shared security,” said US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Eric Meyer. “We look forward to welcoming Governor Gianforte, First Lady Susan Gianforte, and the Montana delegation as they open doors for American farmers and deepen cooperation that benefits both our countries.”Montana Adjutant General and Montana National Guard Commander Brigadier General Trenton Gibson accompanies the Governor’s delegation to advance defence cooperation through the State Partnership Program, which has linked Montana and Sri Lanka since 2021.&nbsp;In 2025, the Montana National Guard and Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defence signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalise and expand cooperation in disaster response, maritime domain awareness, and professional military education.This partnership strengthens disaster readiness, maritime security, and the professional skills of military personnel while building lasting ties between Montana and Sri Lanka. The Governor’s visit is expected to deepen that cooperation and open new opportunities for agricultural trade.

Montana Governor Gianforte arrives in SL

US President Donald Trump's administration imposed sanctions on the ​International Criminal Court on Friday, hours after one of its former judges won the Nobel Peace Prize, putting Washington on a diplomatic collision course with European allies.&nbsp;The court denounced the ‌move as an "assault on the rule of law and on the very foundations of the international legal order," and called on its 125 member states to take action to defend it.&nbsp;"The Court cannot stand alone. Its fate now rests also in the hands of the states that created it," it said in a statement. "This is not just about defending a single institution, but about safeguarding the international order grounded upon the rule of law. History will judge this moment."&nbsp;The Trump ​administration has long been hostile to the court, founded in 2002 to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, and has previously imposed sanctions on its prosecutors and judges.&nbsp;Friday's move goes much ​further, potentially punishing companies that provide services to the court itself, amounting to an unprecedented attack on an institution founded on an international treaty. The ⁠US initially signed the Rome Statute that founded the court but never ratified it.&nbsp;"President Trump will never allow the International Criminal Court to prosecute Americans," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement, ​first published by Reuters.&nbsp;"That is why, today, the United States is sanctioning the International Criminal Court. We will ban transactions with this rogue court, cutting off their resources and crippling its ability to operate."&nbsp;SANCTIONS INCLUDE ​GRACE PERIOD&nbsp;The US Treasury announced the sanctions with a six-month initial grace period, and some other exemptions that would allow some transactions for telecoms, software, payment of pensions and transactions related to detainees.&nbsp;Rubio said the sanctions had been structured to give the court and its member states an opportunity to address US concerns, and would be adjusted if those demands were not met.&nbsp;Washington has denounced the ICC over arrest warrants issued for Israeli officials including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and ​an investigation into actions of US soldiers in Afghanistan, which the ICC says is "deprioritized."&nbsp;Rubio in his statement cited calls from outside experts for the ICC to prosecute American service members, border patrol agents and ​elected leaders. ICC officials have not taken steps toward such prosecutions.&nbsp;"The sanctions are intended to undermine the rule of law internationally and the work that an independent judicial institution is doing," ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan told ‌Reuters. "Our work ⁠will continue across all our situations, our investigations and our prosecutions."&nbsp;EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on social media that the six-month period "offers a window for dialogue" but added that the bloc "has options to ensure that (the ICC) can continue its vital work." Belgium's foreign minister called for an EU blocking statute to be activated to protect the court.&nbsp;The ICC has issued arrest warrants against more than 70 people, including world leaders and major figures in global conflicts. In addition to Netanyahu, it has sought the arrest of Hamas figures. Others who were the subject of arrest warrants include Russian President Vladimir Putin, former Sudan President ​Omar al-Bashir and former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. ​Charges against Kenyan President William Ruto and former ⁠Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta were withdrawn.&nbsp;NOBEL COMMITTEE CITES POLITICAL ATTACKS IN AWARDING PRIZE&nbsp;Despite US calls for countries to quit the court, it has received strong backing from most member states, which include all EU countries and all members of the NATO alliance apart from the United States and Turkey. It is based in ​the Netherlands, an EU and NATO member.&nbsp;The Nobel Prize awarded hours earlier to South African jurist Navi Pillay, who sat on the ICC's Appeals ​Chamber from 2003-2008, was explicitly ⁠described by the prize committee as a gesture of support for such tribunals at a time when "judges and institutions of international law are under political attack".&nbsp;"An international legal system in which war criminals are held to account and the victims of abuse see justice served is a precondition for a peaceful world," the prize committee said.&nbsp;US sanctions typically bar all US-based companies from any work with a sanctioned organization, forcing banks to shut accounts, ⁠insurers to end ​coverage and software companies to halt cooperation.&nbsp;The Trump administration previously imposed targeted sanctions on court officials during his first term, ​which were rescinded under President Joe Biden. Washington announced new sanctions just days after Trump returned to office in January 2025.&nbsp;Court officials have been preparing for months for the prospect of sanctions on the court itself, shifting office computers from Microsoft software to open-source ​equivalents and making new arrangements for banking and health insurance.&nbsp;Source: Reuters

US imposes sanctions on ICC hours after former judge wins Nobel Peace Prize

The Omani co-pilot who allegedly attempted to hijack a Flydubai plane started a "drift towards extremism and terrorism" while studying in Australia, United Arab Emirates officials say.&nbsp;UAE Attorney-General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi also alleged the pilot - widely named as Hamam al-Hammami - was last week trying to crash the plane into Tel Aviv's airport in a "suicide attack".&nbsp;He wounded the captain in the cockpit with the emergency crash axe before being overpowered by passengers. Another crew on the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight was able to land the aircraft in Saudi Arabia.&nbsp;Melbourne university RMIT earlier confirmed the pilot had studied there but left before completing his engineering qualification.&nbsp;According to Shamsi, interrogations of the 29-year-old pilot revealed he had been inspired by al-Qaeda's 11 September attacks in the US in 2001.&nbsp;"The findings indicated that signs of his drift towards extremism and terrorism first emerged in 2017, while he was studying in Australia," the attorney-general was quoted as saying by the UAE's state news agency Wam on Friday.&nbsp;"During that period, he was influenced by takfiri [radical] ideology through reading extremist literature and following online content glorifying terrorist organisations and suicide attacks."&nbsp;The Wam report also said the pilot had told investigators "he had prepared himself both psychologically and physically to carry out the plot by intensifying his exposure to material promoting terrorism and training in boxing under a private coach".&nbsp;"He admitted that he had acted alone, without the involvement of others, although investigations are continuing to verify this claim," Wam said.&nbsp;The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has reported the man was issued an Australian student visa in 2014 and studied in the country in 2015-17, before leaving.&nbsp;This week, the Sydney Morning Herald unearthed tweets from al-Mammami's now-deleted X account in which he referred to his five years spent studying abroad in Australia, Britain, and New Zealand, as "the golden years of my religious commitment".&nbsp;More than 170 passengers and crew were on board flight FZ1073 on 30 September.&nbsp;In the days after the incident, Australian authorities confirmed they were looking into the man's links to Australia.&nbsp;The Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team - made up of the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Victoria Police and the country's security agency ASIO - said it was "investigating the man's links to Australia".&nbsp;Indian co-pilot Capt Smit Machchhar has been hailed a hero after managing to unlock the cockpit door while being violently attacked with an axe, allowing passengers to get in and take control of the aircraft.&nbsp;Questions are also being asked about major security lapses, including how the attacker was recruited by Flydubai and given clearance to fly a plane filled with Israelis to Tel Aviv.&nbsp;Regional officials said the co-pilot was barred from flying by Oman's national carrier, Oman Air, and moved to an administrative job because of concerns about his extremist views.&nbsp;He was later hired by UAE-based Flydubai after undergoing standard security checks that did not examine his background for potential signs of radicalisation, according to the officials.&nbsp;Israeli aviation regulations also state that pilots who are citizens of countries without formal diplomatic relations with Israel, like Oman, are not permitted to operate flights to the country.&nbsp;Source: BBC

PSC report on 323 containers due in weeks

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