Author name: Tharindu Withanage

Two suspects who were directly involved in serious criminal activities in Sri Lanka and had fled to Dubai, along with a female suspect who misappropriated government funds in 2024 and also escaped to Dubai, were brought back to Sri Lanka this morning (16 January 2026) via Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake. The suspects were arrested in recent days by the Abu Dhabi Police and Dubai Police on the basis of Red Notices issued at the request of the Sri Lanka Police through Interpol. Following coordination under international cooperation mechanisms established through extradition laws, the suspects were promptly handed over to the Sri Lanka Police. Of the returned suspects, one is a 52-year-old resident of Elpitiya and another is a 30-year-old resident of Kandana. The female suspect is a 56-year-old resident of Mount Lavinia. Investigations have revealed that the suspect from Kandana was directly involved in the shooting of an individual inside a vehicle on 3 July 2025. The suspect from Elpitiya was also identified as being involved in several organized criminal activities centered in the Urasmanganda area and was subject to Red Notices. The female suspect had previously been sentenced by the Colombo High Court to a term of imprisonment and a fine for defrauding government funds while employed at a foreign embassy in Sri Lanka. The two male suspects are to be handed over to the Kelaniya Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau and the Elpitiya Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau for further investigations, while the female suspect has been handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department. To date, the Sri Lanka Police has initiated action to obtain 95 Interpol Red Notices to apprehend suspects hiding overseas. As a result of these efforts, 10 suspects were taken into custody in 2024 and a further 11 suspects in 2025.

The Police Family Welfare Association has established the “Tiny Tots” Preschool Trio, located at Kew Road, Maradana, and the Police Field Force Headquarters. The annual variety show for 2025, featuring the talented children of the “Tiny Tots” Preschool Trio, was held ceremonially on 9th January 2026 at the Cultural Centre Auditorium, France. The event, originally scheduled to take place last year, had been temporarily postponed by the organizing committee due to unfavorable weather conditions that affected the entire island. The chief guests for the occasion were Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr. Priyantha Weerasooriya and the Chairperson of Police Seva Vanitha, Mrs. Nilmini Samarathunga. Senior DIG Mr. Rajitha Sri Daminda, DIG Mr. W. V. Ginige, along with several distinguished invitees, including a former Chairperson of Police Seva Vanitha, were also in attendance. The programme was enriched with colourful dance performances, melodious singing, and creative presentations by the children, highlighting their natural talents and artistic abilities. The event also reflected the commitment of the Police Family Welfare Association towards the well-being of children in police families and the promotion of early childhood development. The auditorium was filled with proud parents and police officers who enthusiastically witnessed the performances. The event concluded on a highly successful note.

The annual plastic insurance card currently issued by insurance companies to vehicle owners will be phased out in the future. In its place, arrangements are underway to introduce a permanent digital insurance card (e-card), developed under the guidance of the Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (IRCSL). A special awareness programme was organized by the Ministry of Public Security in collaboration with the Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka to brief police officers engaged in road-side insurance verification, along with senior police officials including the Inspector General of Police, Attorney-at-Law Mr. Priyantha Weerasooriya. The event was held on 07 January 2026 at the auditorium of the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs. The programme was attended by the Hon. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Public Security, Mr. Ananda Wijeyapala, the Hon. Deputy Minister, Mr. Sunil Watagala, the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, Mr. Ravi Seneviratne, and the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Priyantha Weerasooriya. The Chairman of the Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka, Dr. Ajith Ravindra de Mel, delivered the keynote address, outlining the objectives and advantages of the new digital insurance system. Addressing the gathering, Dr. de Mel emphasized that the introduction of the digital insurance card would help resolve several longstanding issues within the insurance sector, including environmental pollution caused by the annual disposal of plastic cards, the substantial financial costs involved in producing physical cards, and other operational challenges faced by the industry. The programme commenced with the distribution of 500 tablet devices to traffic police officers in the Western Province, enabling efficient access to the enhanced Sri Lanka Police Road Accident Data Management System and facilitating the verification of the new digital insurance e-card. In addition, 150 tablet devices were symbolically handed over to selected police officers. The event was attended by the Director General of the Insurance Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka, Ms. Damayanthi Fernando, the Senior Deputy Inspector General in charge of Administration of the Sri Lanka Police, Mr. Sanjeewa Dharmaratne, the President of the Sri Lanka Insurers’ Association, Mr. Lasitha Wimaratne, along with senior government officials, police officers, and executives representing insurance companies.

The Sri Lanka Police made a financial donation of Rs. 50 million to strengthen the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund established by the government to provide relief to the people affected by Cyclone Ditwah and rebuild the damaged infrastructure. The cheque for this financial donation was officially handed over to the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, at the Presidential Secretariat on 06.01.2026. The donation was made by the Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Ravi Seneviratne, and the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Priyantha Weerasooriya. The fund has been raised based on the contribution made from the salaries of all officers of the Sri Lanka Police, and the police officers have made this commitment to fulfill their responsibility for the country during a national disaster while maintaining law and order in the country.