The National Campaign Against Narcotics progress during 2024/2025/2026 Destruction of Seized Illegal Drugs 29 most-wanted criminals were extradited during 2024/2025/2026 Security preventive measures beefed up
Acting on information received from residents via the 119 Police Emergency Hotline, officers of the Kokkadichola Police responded to an incident reported in the Nellikadu area on 20.03.2026, where a woman was discovered inside a well along with the body of another deceased female. The rescued woman was immediately admitted to the Batticaloa Hospital for medical treatment. Preliminary investigations have identified the deceased as a resident of the Wammiadiuttu area in Thikkodi. Subsequent inquiries revealed that both women had been subjected to criminal acts on two separate occasions and subsequently thrown into the well. Based on these findings, officers of the Eastern Provincial Crime Division conducted further investigations and arrested two male suspects and one female suspect on 20.03.2026 in connection with charges of abduction, robbery, and murder. The arrested male suspects are aged 22 and 26, while the female suspect is 26 years old. Investigations have further uncovered that the victims were deceived under the pretext of being provided transportation in a three-wheeler. During the journey, they were rendered unconscious by being given a substance mixed with a beverage, after which their gold jewellery was stolen and they were thrown into a water-filled well. It has been revealed that the deceased woman had been targeted while returning from the Wellaweli area to the Palugamam Government Hospital and a bank within the Kalawanchikudi Police Division on 28.02.2026. The woman currently receiving treatment had been waiting by the roadside with her three-year-old child on 19.03.2026, intending to travel from the Vavuniya area to Batticaloa when she too fell victim to the suspects in a similar manner. The three-year-old child was later found abandoned in a paddy field in the Valakala area within the Vavuniya Police Division. Further investigations led to the arrest of two additional suspects in the Batticaloa area on 22.03.2026 for the possession and disposal of stolen gold jewellery. These suspects, aged 39 and 49, are residents of the Batticaloa area. The Kokkadichola Police have obtained detention orders to hold the two primary suspects directly involved in the abduction and murder, along with the female suspect, until 27.03.2026 for further interrogation. The two suspects arrested for the possession and disposal of stolen property have been remanded until 27.03.2026. Further investigations are ongoing.
In response to a tense situation arising among certain private bus operators concerning the continuation of services following the increase in fuel prices, an adequate number of police officers have been deployed at major bus terminals on the instructions of the Inspector General of Police, in order to prevent any incidents that could disrupt public order. On the morning of 23.03.2026, two individuals who obstructed the movement of buses at the Ampara bus stand were taken into custody by officers of the Ampara Headquarters Police. The suspects have been identified as two drivers, aged 52 and 32.
01. Jaffna Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau On the afternoon of 22.03.2026, officers attached to the Jaffna Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau apprehended a suspect at a private storage facility in the Karandan Road area within the Kopai Police Division. The suspect was found in possession of 24 barrels containing 4,240 litres of diesel, 5 barrels containing 840 litres of petrol, and 2 barrels containing 390 litres of kerosene. He was subsequently produced at the Jaffna Police Station. The suspect is a 42-year-old resident of Thoppukadu. 02. Nugegoda Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau On the afternoon of 22.03.2026, a team of officers from the Nugegoda Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau arrested a suspect in the Pamunuwa area of the Maharagama Police Division for unlawfully possessing 22 litres of petrol without a valid licence. He was later handed over to the Maharagama Police Station. The suspect is a 44-year-old resident of the Pamunuwa area. 03. Nittambuwa Police Station On the evening of 22.03.2026, officers from the Nittambuwa Police Station took into custody a suspect who was in possession of 146 litres of petrol without a licence at a retail outlet in the Pamunuwa area of Kammalpitiya, Nittambuwa. The suspect is a 56-year-old resident of the Pasyala area. 04. Norwood Police Station On the evening of 22.03.2026, a team of officers from the Norwood Police Station apprehended a suspect who was found with 565 litres of diesel at a shop located in the Venturewatte area of Norwood. The suspect is a 53-year-old resident of the Norwood area. 05. Minuwangoda Police Station On the afternoon of 22.03.2026, officers from the Minuwangoda Police Station arrested a suspect for possessing 20 litres of petrol at a residence in the Keenagahalanda area of Minuwangoda. The suspect is a 53-year-old resident of the Minuwangoda area.
Officers of the Police Special Task Force (STF) attached to the Mullaitivu Camp apprehended a suspect on the morning of 22.03.2026 in the Vallipunam area of the Oddusudan Reserve in Theravil, in possession of 104 teak logs. On the same day, in the early hours, STF officers from the Mankulam Camp arrested two additional suspects along with a lorry used to transport 47 teak logs in the Manawalapattamuruppu section of the Oddusudan Reserve. The three suspects, aged 38, 42, and 45, are residents of the Pudukudiyiruppu, Kilinochchi, and Melivanam areas. The timber, which had been unlawfully felled and processed after trespassing into the reserve without authorization, has been handed over to the Pudukudiyiruppu Range Forest Office and the Mankulam Police Station for further inquiries. Meanwhile, STF officers from the Iluppukkadavai Camp conducted a raid in the Mukkampan area within the Akkarayan Police Division on the evening of 20.03.2026. During the operation, a suspect was arrested in possession of 15 tractor-loads of unlicensed timber, including palu, weera, burutha, and kaluwara wood. The suspect, a 28-year-old resident of the Kilinochchi area, has been handed over to the Punareesankulam Forestry Department for onward investigation. On the same day, officers from the STF Parayanalankulam Camp arrested a suspect at the Punchikulam junction in the Madhu Police Division while he was transporting 627 pieces of burutha, kohomba, and teak timber that had been illegally cut, using a lorry. Subsequent investigations revealed that the lorry bore forged number plates. The suspect, a 51-year-old resident of the Maha Nanneriya area, has been handed over to the Madhu Range Forest Office for further legal proceedings.
On 21.03.2026, a team of officers from the Badowita Police Outpost carried out a raid in the Badowita area within the Mount Lavinia Police Division, acting on a tip-off. During the operation, a suspect was apprehended in possession of 1 kilogram and 24 grams of hashish and was subsequently handed over to the Mount Lavinia Police Station. The suspect is a 22-year-old resident of the Mount Lavinia area. Further investigations are being conducted by the Mount Lavinia Police.
The Sri Lanka Police was honoured with the award for the Best State Institution at the LankaPay Technnovation – 2026 Awards Ceremony, in recognition of its exemplary contribution to implementing the online payment system for traffic fines through GovPay. LankaPay, the organization responsible for developing and operating the innovative national digital payment network (GovPay) under the guidance of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, organized the LankaPay Technnovation – 2026 Awards Ceremony to acknowledge institutions dedicated to advancing the nation towards a digitally transformed future by delivering efficient and citizen-centric services. The event was held on the evening of 25 March 2026 at the Shangri-La Hotel Complex in Colombo. During the ceremony, the Sri Lanka Police received the award for its outstanding commitment to delivering high-quality digital payment services (GovPay) to the public. Special recognition was extended to the Inspector General of Police, Attorney-at-Law Priyantha Weerasuriya; Senior Deputy Inspector General in charge of Crime and Traffic, Ranmal Kodithuwakku; Deputy Inspector General in charge of Traffic Control and Road Safety, W. P. J. Senadheera; and the Officer-in-Charge of the Police Information Technology Division, Chief Inspector Lakmal, for their significant contributions towards introducing and promoting the digital payment system, thereby enhancing public convenience. The awards ceremony was graced by distinguished guests, including the Honorable Deputy Minister of Digital Economy, Eranga Weeraratne; the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Dr. P. Nandalal Weerasinghe; and the President’s Principal Advisor on Digital Economy, Dr. Hans Wijesuriya. The event also saw the participation of heads of several leading private institutions in the country, recognized for their excellence in adopting digital solutions.
Following the investigation into the shooting and fatal attack inside a shop by two individuals on a motorcycle at Wadiyamankada Junction, within the Kalutara North Police Division, on February 14, 2026, authorities have released details of a suspect. If you have any information regarding a person matching this description, please contact the Kalutara North Police Station or the Kalutara Divisional Crime Investigation Bureau, which is leading the investigation, immediately using the following numbers: Suspect Description: Approximate Age: 27 yearsPhysical Appearance: Pale complexion Contact Numbers:Officer, Kalutara North Police: 071 8591692Officer, Kalutara Divisional Crime Investigation: 071 8596395 Authorities request the public’s cooperation to assist in apprehending the suspect.
In conjunction with Police Heroes’ Day, observed on March 21 in remembrance of officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, the Sri Lanka Police, with the participation of the Inspector General of Police, Attorney-at-Law Mr. Priyantha Weerasooriya, conducted a morning offering to the Sacred Tooth Relic enshrined at the Kandy Dalada Maligawa. The event was attended by the Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Central Province, Mr. Lalith Pathinayake, along with senior officers from the Kandy and Matale Police Divisions, as well as family members of fallen officers. During this solemn and respectful observance, the IGP placed police division flags before the Sacred Tooth Relic and invoked blessings for all members of the police force.
A suspect was apprehended by the Central Crime Investigation Bureau on 21.03.2026 for circulating misleading information on social media. The individual had falsely claimed that there is a fuel shortage in the country, a statement deemed capable of discouraging foreign visitors, adversely affecting the tourism sector, and inciting public unrest. The suspect, a 53-year-old resident of Wattegama, is scheduled to be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court on 22.03.2026. Further inquiries are being carried out by the Computer Crime Investigation Division of the Central Crime Investigation Bureau.