• Rs. 24 m foreign currency seized from Lankan businessman at BIA
• Suspect nabbed with turtle meat, eggs

A cousin of former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, Bandara Rambukwella, was arrested on allegations of money laundering by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption. He was taken into custody yesterday morning (3) at his residence, the Police said. The court later ordered that Bandara Rambukwella be remanded until 10 February.

Meanwhile, an individual was arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake while attempting to smuggle a large quantity of foreign currency into Sri Lanka. The suspect landed at the BIA from Bengaluru, India. The 48-year-old businessman is a resident of Akurana, Kandy. He was taken into custody while concealing Euros 48,900, United States Dollars 14,000, and Indian Rupees 26,650 in his luggage. The total value of the seized currency is estimated at Rs. 24.09 million.

Elsewhere, Coast Guard personnel arrested a suspect in possession of more than 57 kgs of turtle meat, 450 turtle eggs along with a dinghy boat during a special search operation carried out in the Katuneriya beach area on Monday (2). The arrested individual is a resident of the Katuneriya area. The suspect, along with the seized turtle meat, turtle eggs and the dinghy boat, were handed over to the Marawila Police for further investigations and legal proceedings.