Maldivian student fined

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda

A Maldivian female student who studying in Sri Lanka was yesterday ordered to pay a fine of Rs. 5,000 by a Colombo Court for having 12 illegally imported cigarettes in her possession.

The female student was arrested by the Colpetty Police near a shopping mall in Colombo 3 with 12 illegal cigarettes. When the accused was produced before Colombo Fort Magistrate Kanishka Wijeratne, Defence Counsel Sudarshani Gunaratne appearing for the accused informed Court that Police had taken the cigarettes in question from her client’s bag, which was kept for her own consumption.

Counsel further argued that the concerned amount of cigarettes was not illegally imported and the airport had permitted her to bring two cartoons of cigarettes.

In reply, Colpetty Police asked the Counsel to tender the relevant receipt issued by airport. However, Defence Counsel told Court that her client was willing to plead guilty and moved Court that a lenient punishment be meted out to the accused.

Accordingly, the accused was ordered to pay a fine of Rs. 5,000 by the Magistrate.