Day: August 29, 2022

COLOMBO– Twenty-four companies from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, the United States, China, India, Russia, Britain, Malaysia, Norway, and the Philippines, are interested in the petroleum business in Sri Lanka, a government official said.

Sri Lankan Minister of Power and Energy, Kanchana Wijesekera said last nigh that, his ministry has appointed a committee to evaluate the expressions of interest (EOIs) submitted by the foreign firms, which will finalise the process within six weeks.

Wijesekera said, companies in petroleum-producing countries were invited to import, distribute and sell petroleum products in Sri Lanka.

The minister added, 700 gas stations under the state-owned Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), can be given to selected companies for operations, and the selected companies can also use other CPC facilities on a commercial basis, he said.

Currently, the CPC and the Lanka Indian Oil Corporation are permitted to distribute fuel to retail customers.

Wijesekera said that, the CPC, which holds 80 percent of the retail petroleum market, is unable to keep on supplying fuel because of dollar shortages.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

The Police would like to alert members of the public to a persistent trend observed in relation to a scam variant, which involves scammers contacting victims through phone calls, pretending to be their friends, and thereafter asking for financial assistance. Since January 2022, at least 1,098 victims have fallen prey, with total losses amounting to at least $4.5million.

In these cases, the victims received phone calls from unknown numbers with the “+” prefix. Upon answering these calls, the callers would not identify themselves and instead ask the victims to guess his identity with questions such as: “Guess who am I?” or “You can’t remember me?”. Thinking that they were acquainted, the victim would answer with the name of a friend who they thought most resembled the caller’s voice. The caller would then assume the identity of the said friend and would claim to have lost their mobile phone or changed their contact number. They would then ask the victim to update his number in his contact list. A few days later, the caller would contact the victim and ask for a loan to help them tide over their financial difficulties or trouble with the law. Victims would be provided with a local bank account or phone numbers to transfer money to. Victims would only discover that they had been scammed after contacting their actual friends whom the scammers had impersonated.

The Police would like to advise members of the public to adopt the following precautionary measures:

Beware of calls with the “+” prefix, especially if you are not expecting an international call;

Beware of unusual requests received from phone calls or messages, even if they appear to be from your family or friends; and

Verify whether the request is legitimate by checking with your family and friends through alternative means such as physical meet-ups, video calls or email other than using the contact details on your phone.

For more information on scams, members of the public can visit www.scamalert.sg or call the Anti-Scam Hotline at 1800-722-6688. Anyone with information on such scams may call the Police Hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness. All information will be kept strictly confidential.

Source: Singapore Police Force

VIENTIANE, Aug 29 (NNN-KPL) – Thousands of people in northern Laos have been affected by flash floods, triggered by heavy rains in recent days.

Oudomxay, Bokeo, Huaphan and Phongsaly are among the provinces hit by the floods.

Oudomxay province, some 310 km north of the Lao capital, Vientiane, has been the hardest hit, since last Friday, chief of the Lar district, Houmphan Bouphakham, told local media today.

He said, roads were flooded and impassable, houses destroyed or damaged, and electricity and water supplies cut off.

In wake of the floods, people are now in urgent need of clothing, food and drinking water.

The number of people left homeless has not yet been assessed, and local authorities are currently busy evacuating people and providing emergency relief supplies.

Local authorities have been battling to transfer people to higher grounds. As roads were cut off, they had to use boats to evacuate residents.

Meanwhile, 97 families in four villages in Phongsaly province’s Khua district, were affected by downpours, with the related damage estimated to be more than 5.6 billion Lao kips (some 363,000 U.S. dollars).

The province of Bokeo has also suffered extensive flooding. Videos on social media showed how people were struggling to move their belongings and vehicles.

In addition, Hinheup district in Vientiane province was affected by flooding after a river overflowed its banks.

Local authorities in Huaphan province are working to prepare safe places for flood-displaced people to take shelter.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

The public is advised that the operations of the Department of Foreign Affairs Consular Office (CO) in Cebu located at Pacific Mall – Metro Mandaue and the Temporary Off-Site Passport Services in Cebu City located at SM Seaside Cebu will be temporarily suspended on 30 August 2022 (Tuesday) in celebration of Mandaue City Charter Day to Proclamation No.38.

Operations will resume on 31 August 2022 (Wednesday).

Applicants may email CO Cebu through cebu.rco@dfa.gov.ph for other concerns.

Source: Republic of Philippines Department Of Foreign Affairs

The Police are appealing for the next-of-kin of 80-year-old Mr Lee Ban Kok to come forward.

Mr Lee, a former resident of Christalite Methodist Home located at 51 Marsiling Drive, had passed away at Tan Tock Seng Hospital on 22 August 2022.

Anyone with information is requested to call the Police Hotline at 1800-255-0000 or submit information online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness. All information will be kept strictly confidential.

Source: Singapore Police Force