Author name: Tharindu Withanage

Based on a complaint filed by the Police Narcotics Bureau, the Illegal Assets Investigation Division has launched an investigation under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act into properties and assets allegedly acquired by a 52-year-old drug trafficker residing in the Hambegamuwa area of Thanamalwila. Investigations revealed that the suspect has a history of criminal activity related to drug possession and drug trafficking. He has previously been arrested by several police stations across the island and produced before the Honorable Courts in connection with these offences. During the course of the assets investigation, it was uncovered that the suspect had acquired a number of properties using money earned through illegal activities and had registered these assets in the name of his wife. Accordingly, the Embilipitiya and Tangalle High Courts have issued orders under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act to freeze these properties. The said orders have been extended for a further period of seven days with effect from 11 December 2025. The frozen properties and assets are as follows: I. A pharmacy located in the Embilipitiya area, valued at approximately Rs. 30 million. II. A 39.5-perch land and a hotel in the Embilipitiya area, valued at approximately Rs. 70 million. III. A land and a building with two shops located in the Middeniya area, valued at approximately Rs. 15 million. IV. A land and a building with a shop in Middeniya, valued at approximately Rs. 7.5 million. V. Another land and a building with a shop in Middeniya, valued at approximately Rs. 7.5 million. VI. A 25-perch land and a two-storey house in Keerawela Katuwa, Embilipitiya, valued at approximately Rs. 35 million. VII. A land and a two-storey building with a shop located on Panamura Road, Middeniya, valued at approximately Rs. 15 million. The total value of the frozen properties exceeds Rs. 180 million. The Illegal Assets Investigation Division is continuing the necessary legal procedures to take possession of these illegally acquired properties and assets. Further investigations are also underway to identify and freeze any additional assets obtained through unlawful means, under the instructions and direct supervision of the Inspector General of Police.  

Five suspects who acted as members of an unlawful assembly by premeditating, conspiring and aiding and abetting the murder of a person have been arrested in the Ratmalana area of the Dehiwala Police Division on the morning of 10.12.2025. The arrests were made based on information received by the Western Province Southern District Crime Division. It has been revealed that the murder was planned to be carried out as revenge for the crime of killing a person and seriously injuring another person by shooting them with a firearm near a playground in the Wanarathana Road area of the Dehiwala Police Division on 06.12.2025. The five suspects are aged between 22 and 36 years and are residents of Pankulama, Ratmalana, Boralesgamuwa and Moratuwa areas. The suspect, a resident of Pankulama, was arrested and found in possession of 15 grams of heroin. He was the shooter in the crime of shooting and killing a resident of Badowita area in Mount Lavinia Police Division on 19.01.2025 and is currently facing trial at the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court in connection with that crime. Furthermore, based on information revealed by the suspects, a motorcycle that was prepared to be used to commit the crime has also been recovered. According to the registration of the number plate attached to the motorcycle, it has been revealed that it is the number of a motorcycle that was stolen in the Homagama Police Division. The suspects will be produced before the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court today, 11.12.2025, and the Western Province Southern District Crime Division is conducting further investigations.

On the night of 09.12.2025, officers of the Commercial Crimes Investigation Division of the Criminal Investigation Department arrested a suspect and a suspect for having contacts with organised criminals, possessing ammunition, transferring money belonging to organised criminals into bank accounts and aiding and abetting organized criminals. The suspect is a 32-year-old resident of Meegoda and the suspect is a 25-year-old resident of Embilipitiya. During a search of the room of a lodge in Colombo 10 where the suspect and suspect were temporarily staying, 15 9 mm live cartridges were found hidden in a laptop bag belonging to the suspect, and upon the suspect’s statement, a house in the Thunkama area of the Kuttigala Police Division was searched and a sum of Rs. 1,534,000/=, suspected to have been earned through drug trafficking or organized crime, was found hidden in a cupboard in the house. It has also been revealed that the suspect and suspect are relatives of an organised criminal currently detained at the Western Province North Crime Division on detention orders and the Criminal Investigation Department is holding them under 72-hour detention orders and conducting further investigations.

A video clip currently circulating on social media alleges that a tense situation arose during the distribution of disaster-relief supplies in the Mandaramnuwara area, claiming that residents were protesting against the Mandaramnuwara Police. Following instructions from the Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Mandaramnuwara Police, a report was obtained regarding the incident. Based on the findings, the following clarification has been issued. Due to the recent sudden disaster situation in the country, several areas under the Mandaramnuwara Police Division were affected by landslides. Residents of these areas have been relocated to safe camps. As road access to certain locations remains obstructed, relief items intended for affected families were transported by air. These supplies were received by the respective Grama Niladharis and distributed accordingly. The Mandaramnuwara OIC has further reported that police officers were deployed solely to ensure the safety of the aircraft and the public during the landing, and that they did not engage in the distribution of relief goods. On 07 December 2025, a group of approximately 150 to 200 people from around 50 families living near the Mandaramnuwara Police Station prevented the Grama Niladharis from accepting the air-delivered relief items. Instead, the items were stored temporarily at a school. Police officers acted to maintain public order, and the OIC immediately informed the Divisional Secretary of the situation. During this time, police officers took steps to control the gathering and ensure the safe evacuation of the government officials present. It has been reported that several individuals at the scene filmed the events while shouting in a manner hostile to the police, and later released the footage on social media. The Grama Niladhari Office and the Mandaramnuwara Police Station are located on the same premises in front of a tea factory. The OIC confirmed that the group involved in the commotion did not at any point enter the police station. However, because both offices share the same land, videos taken from certain angles may misleadingly suggest that the police station was surrounded or raided by the public. It is regrettable that such content has created a false impression regarding the conduct of the Sri Lanka Police, who have been working tirelessly day and night to safeguard the lives and property of the public during this unexpected national disaster. Accordingly, the Sri Lanka Police wishes to present this clarification to ensure the public is accurately informed about the incident.