Author name: Tharindu Withanage

The annual Police Flower Parade, organized by the Sri Lanka Police in conjunction with the Navam Maha Perahera of the Gangaramaya Temple, Hunupitiya, Colombo, was held on 31.01.2026 and 01.02.2026. As part of this event, a ceremonial procession paraded through the streets from the Gangaramaya Temple to the Seema Malakaya on the evening of 30.01.2026. The parade was organized by the Police Buddhist and Religious Affairs Association under the close guidance and supervision of the Inspector General of Police, Attorney-at-Law, Priyantha Weerasuriya. Over 200 police officers took part in the procession, carrying Sesath, Muthukudda and Buddhist Flags, while participating as Hevisi drummers and traditional dance troupes, adding cultural splendor to the event. Officers representing the Police Cultural Division, the Police Special Task Force, and the Police Headquarters actively participated in the procession. The event was conducted in a dignified and magnificent manner with the assistance and security provided by the surrounding police stations.

A cash award presentation ceremony was held on the morning of 30 January 2026 at the main auditorium of the Police Crime Records Division in Colombo, under the patronage of Inspector General of Police, Attorney-at-Law Priyantha Weerasuriya, to honor the exceptional professional competence demonstrated by officers attached to the Fingerprint Bureau, Crime Analysis Unit, and Forensic Photography Unit of the Division. During the ceremony, a sum of Rs. 2,953,000 was symbolically distributed among 20 officers, while the total amount of prize money approved for this phase stands at Rs. 10,483,550, to be awarded to 335 officers in recognition of their meritorious service. It was noteworthy that a Police Inspector received a cash incentive for successfully resolving 45 serious crimes through fingerprint analysis. In addition, Police Constable 104595 Dulara Dilshan of the Crime Records Division was specially commended by the IGP for his courageous conduct in climbing to an upper floor during the fire that erupted in Kiribathgoda town on 21 January 2026, thereby demonstrating exceptional bravery in the line of duty. Furthermore, certificates were awarded to 21 officers who successfully completed the Primary Level in Fingerprinting, as well as to 11 officers who passed the Advanced Level in Fingerprinting. The event was attended by several senior police officials, including Director General of the Proceeds of Crime Investigation Division, Senior DIG Attorney-at-Law Mr. Asanga Karawita; Senior DIG in charge of Crime and Traffic, Mr. Ranmal Kodituwakku; Director of the Crime Records Division, SSP Mr. Ruwan Kumara; DIG of Human Resources Management and International Relations, Mr. Sisara Kumara; and DIG in charge of the Colombo Division, Mr. Nishantha de Zoysa, among others.

The assistance of the Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (IRCSL) is vital for ongoing and future police investigations, particularly those related to money laundering and terrorist financing. Accordingly, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was formally signed between the Sri Lanka Police and the Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka at Police Headquarters on the evening of 29.01.2026, affirming mutual cooperation and information sharing between the two institutions. This agreement will facilitate the expeditious collection of relevant information by the Police, without the need for prior judicial intervention, to ascertain details of insurance policies held by suspects or institutions under investigation. The signing ceremony was attended by the Inspector General of Police, Attorney-at-Law Mr. Priyantha Weerasooriya, the Chairman of the Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka, Dr. Ajith Ravindra de Mel, along with senior officials and staff members of both institutions.

Officers of the Police Narcotics Bureau, with the assistance of personnel from the Sri Lanka Navy, intercepted and seized two fishing vessels transporting a large quantity of narcotics off the southern coast on 23.01.2026. The vessels, along with 11 suspects, were brought to the Dikowita Harbour on the morning of 25.01.2026. The arrested suspects are residents of the Ambalantota, Koswatta, and Beruwala areas and are aged between 24 and 50 years. A total of 270 packages containing 184 kg and 528 grams of heroin and 112 kg and 268 g of crystal methamphetamine (ice) were recovered and taken into police custody from the two vessels. The 11 suspects are scheduled to be produced before the Aluthgama Magistrate’s Court No. 01 on 25.01.2026, where police are expected to seek seven-day detention orders for further investigations.

Following direct discussions held by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) with the Government of India, the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka, and Indian security authorities coordinated through the Minister of Public Security and the Secretary to the Ministry, an organized criminal who was the subject of an international Red Notice and had been residing abroad was repatriated to Sri Lanka from India by air. The suspect was taken into custody this evening (24.01.2026) at Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake, by a team of officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and was subsequently handed over to the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Keselwatte Police for further investigations.The suspect is a 34-year-old resident of Keselwatte. Legal proceedings have been instituted against the suspect in the Courts in connection with the following offences: • Committing murder using sharp weapons within the Keselwatte Police Division in 2015.• Aiding and abetting a shooting and murder in the Kotahena Police Division in 2018.• Assaulting an individual with a sharp weapon in the Mattakkuliya Police Division in 2021.• Possession of a live Grenade in the Kotahena Police Division in 2021.• Robbery and possession of narcotic drugs in the Keselwatte, Wellawatte, and Bloemendhal Police Divisions. Further investigations are being carried out under the supervision of the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of the Colombo Range.

Following a dispute that arose in the Ella area in December 2025 between a registered PickMe taxi driver and several three-wheeler taxi operators, conventional three-wheeler drivers initiated protest actions against taxi drivers affiliated with ride-hailing services such as PickMe and Uber in multiple locations across the country. As these incidents escalated into confrontations and reports emerged of disturbances to public order, Inspector General of Police, Attorney-at-Law Priyantha Weerasuriya, convened discussions at Police Headquarters with the leadership of the Three-Wheeler Owners’ Associations representing both parties, along with representatives of PickMe and Uber. During the discussions, the IGP emphasized that the foremost responsibility of the Sri Lanka Police is the preservation of public peace and order. He further stated that whenever complaints relating to mob violence, physical assaults, intimidation, or threats are reported to police stations, legal action will be taken in accordance with the country’s criminal law, irrespective of organizational affiliations or trade-related disputes.