Author name: Tharindu Withanage

Having uncovered that the motorcyclist, who has been arrested on suspicion on 14.11.2025 by two Police officers attached to Athurugiriya Police Station, during their night patrol duty, is a ringleader of a gang that stole five cattle, the officers of Athurugiriya Police Station have been able to arrest six suspects involved in cow theft. A van and a jeep used by the suspects for the theft with 02 motorcycles have also been seized. Investigation has been initiated on the complaint received to Athurugiriya Police Station regarding a cattle theft on the night of 13.11.2025 in Bakmeegaha area, Pore, Athurugiriya. The suspect, who was arrested on suspicion, was detained at the police station and interrogated, and the suspect was seen in CCTV footage at the scene of the cattle theft. Since the Inspector of Police, Mr. Premalal the Officer in Charge of the Crime Branch of Athurugiriya Police Station and Police Constable 84898 Harsha have conducted a sudden check on the motorcyclist, it resulted in this successful rescue of five cattle worth around Rs. 1.1 million. The suspects who are at the age of 26, 28, 29, 39, and 51 years old are residents of Elpitiya, Moratuwa, Yakkalamulla, Etkandura, Keselwatte, Hambantota, and Kahaduwa areas. Further investigation has revealed that these suspects are the same suspects who stole 23 more cattle in several areas. The Athurugiriya Police Station conducts further investigations into the suspects and the relevant vehicles.

The Sri Lanka Police report that a video showing a foreign national woman being sexually assaulted by an individual had been circulating on social media in recent days.  In response, the Police Tourism Division, together with the Thirukkovil Police, launched an investigation into the incident, which has drawn international criticism and damaged the country’s reputation. Police subsequently issued a public appeal for assistance in identifying the suspect. Based on information received, officers arrested the suspect on 16 November 2025 in the Periyanilaveni Police Division. The suspect, a 25-year-old resident of Ellai Street, Kaluwanchikudi, was allegedly involved in the sexual assault, which is believed to have occurred on 25 October 2025. According to police, the Tourism Division, along with the Thirukkovil and Pottuvil Police, made extensive efforts to locate and apprehend the individual. At the time of his arrest, the suspect had reportedly altered his appearance and changed his residence in an attempt to evade capture. The suspect is expected to be handed over to the Pottuvil Police for further investigation.

A hotel employee has been taken into custody by the Colombo Fort Police following a complaint lodged by a Dutch female tourist regarding the theft of foreign currency from her wallet. According to police, the incident occurred on the evening of 11 November 2025, while the official complaint was filed at the Colombo Fort Police on 13 November 2025. The complainant had been staying with another woman in a special guest room at a hotel within the Colombo Fort Police Division when she discovered that Dirhams and Euros amounting to approximately Rs. 330,000 in local currency had gone missing. Upon receiving the report through the Tourist Police, officers of the Colombo Fort Police promptly initiated investigations, which led to the arrest of a 41 year old suspect from Kandana, who was employed at the hotel. During interrogation, the suspect admitted that he had taken the money while the foreign guests were out of the room and had subsequently transferred the stolen currency through a financial institution located in the Ja-Ela area. The suspect is expected to be produced before the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court today, 14 November 2025. Further inquiries are being carried out by the Colombo Fort Police.

A complaint was received by the Police Tourism Division on 25.10.2025 regarding a three-wheeler driver who had cheated a Nepalese woman who had come to visit this country and charged her Rs. 30,000/= for a fare. Officers of the division, who started investigations based on the appearance of the suspect’s three-wheeler and the suspect’s physical characteristics, arrested the suspect on 11.11.2025 after a two-week investigation. Officers who were on a motorcycle tour were able to identify the suspect and he was presented to the Company Street Police Station for further legal action. Earlier, two residents of Imbulgoda and Wellampitiya were arrested for defrauding two Brazilian and Belgian women and charging them Rs. 10,000/= and Rs. 30,000/= for a rental trip. We would like to inform you that the entire tourism industry of the country is being tarnished due to a small group of people who engage in such fraudulent activities. We would like to inform you to refrain from charging foreigners unacceptable amounts for any service provided.

Two suspects directly linked to the shooting incident that took place on the night of 07.11.2025, on the 16th Lane, within the Kotahena Police Area, and five suspects for aiding and abetting the said crime have so far been arrested. After observing CCTV footage, it was revealed that the shooting had been carried out from behind in a brutal manner and the criminal has fled the scene after running over the injured victim with a car, and police investigations were launched swiftly to locate the suspects. Accordingly, the car used for fleeing along with a pistol bullet and a sharp weapon, was found abandoned on Paradise Road, Kotahena. After revealing that the vehicle had been rented from a rent-a-car company, the 62-year-old suspect, who had rented the car prior to the crime, was taken into custody by the Special Task Force in the Grandpass area, Colombo, on 08.11.2025, and was handed over to the Kotahena Police Station. Subsequently, the Colombo Range Crime Division arrested a suspect directly involved in the murder, along with another male suspect and a female suspect who had aided and abetted the crime, on 09.11.2025, at Chennmani Junction area on the A-09 road, while being in hideout at Jaffna area. Through further investigations carried out by the Colombo Range Crime Division, two more suspects and another female suspect in the Grandpass and Wellampitiya areas were arrested on 10.11.2025, along with a three-wheeler and two mobile phones. It has reported that these suspects had aided and abetted the crime by providing accommodation to the criminal involved in the murder. The Kotahena Police Station and the Colombo Range Crime Division are conducting further investigations into the incident.

A team of officers from the Police Station Puttalam arrested a suspect along with 3 kg and 290 g of narcotic ice at a warehouse in the Mullinagar area of Puttalam on the afternoon of 09.11.2025. Based on a piece of information received by an officer attached to the Unit for raiding toxic drugs of the same police station, the OIC and a team of officers raided, searched the warehouse and managed to apprehend the suspect along with the narcotics and a digital scale. The suspect is a 33-year-old resident of the same area. Further investigations regarding the suspect are being conducted by the Police Station Puttalam.

A team of officers from the Organised Crime Prevention Unit 1 of the Special Task Force arrested a suspect, in possession of 05 kilograms and 416 grams of heroin, and five other suspects, who aided and abetted the said smuggling, during a raid conducted on the morning of 07.11.2025 in the Godagama area of Hikkaduwa. The raid was carried out based on a piece of information revealed, and Rs. 10,811,500/=, suspected to be earned through drug trafficking, could be found during the raid. The suspect in possession of drugs is a 47 year-old resident of the Seenigama area of Hikkaduwa. Other suspects are 32 and 51-year-old residents of Ahangama, Galle, Thelwatta, and Wathugedara areas. Information has been revealed that this stock of drugs was received from a fishing vessel, and permission has been obtained from the Honourable Court to detain the said suspects at the Hikkaduwa Police Station for further investigation.