Chinese man fined Rs.1Mn for peddling Sino-fags in Colombo

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana   

A Chinese national who was caught distributing illegal Chinese branded cigarettes in Colombo was imposed a fine of Rs.1 million by the Fort Magistrate yesterday.   

Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage imposed this fine when Kollupitiya Police produced the foreigner arrested for distributing a stock of Chinese branded cigarettes, which the sale and consumption is entirely prohibited in Sri Lanka.   

Two officials attached to the Kollupitiya Police on information arrested the Chinese national and found 6,400 sticks of cigarettes, which was valued at Rs.760,000. 

Kollupitiya Police Inspector S. Vishva, Sub Inspector W. Perera and Constable Chanaka (83997) made the discovery. The Magistrate ordered the seized cigarettes to be confiscated.   

Meanwhile, Police Special Task Force personnel nabbed a person for having a stock of illegal cigarettes worth over Rs.1.3 million in Magalla area in Galle.   

The sleuths attached to the Rathgama STF Camp made the detection and seized 11,600 sticks of cigarettes of a range of imported brands. The illicit fags had been valued at Rs. 1,392,000.   

OIC STF Rathgama Camp IP M B M S J Bandara and the team conducted the detection.   
The 52-year-old suspect along with the cigarettes had been handed over to the Galle Police for further inquiries.