Author name: Tharindu Withanage

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.

Officers at the Dungalpitiya Police Station were able to seize 1943 kilograms of beedi leaves illegally brought into the country without paying duty. This stock of beedi leaves was found while inspecting a suspicious lorry in the Kapungoda sea area of the Dangalpitiya Police Division in the morning of 07.11.2025. The driver was arrested for not having a proper license, and the stock of beedi leaves was taken into police custody. The suspect driver is a resident of the Pitipana area in Negombo. The Dungalpitiya Police Station is conducting further investigations into this to find other suspects involved in the racket.

Crime Branch of Pettah Police Station conducted an investigation on the crime of breaking into a jewelry establishment in Hettiweediya of Pettah Police Area on October 25, 2025 and stealing a stock of gold and silver jewellery worth nearly Seven Million Rupees. A suspect was arrested on 06. 11. 2025 while he was hiding in the Pupuressa Police Area of Gampola.   The stolen silver jewellery approximately 03 kilograms and gold pieces approximately 10 grams have already been recovered. The suspect has been produced before the Court. Further investigation has conducted by the Pettah Police Station to recover the remaining items of gold and silver stolen. An extensive measures have been taken to arrest persons who aided and abetted the crime.

The Kelaniya Divisional Anti-Corruption Unit raided a house in the Wekanda Watta area of the Homagama Police Division on 05.11.2025 and arrested a suspect with 01 kg 489 grams of heroin. The raid was conducted based on information revealed during a tour of the Kelaniya Division to collect information on drugs and the suspect was arrested while trying to flee with the drugs. While on their way to raid the house, the team of officers also checked a suspicious person who was walking on a nearby road and that person was also found to be in possession of 688 grams of ice drugs. A woman who was in the house in question has been arrested for drug trafficking along with an electronic scale. The suspect who was carrying the drugs is a 24-year-old resident of Eriyaketiya – Kiribathgoda. The suspect who was arrested with 01 kilogram and 489 grams is a 24-year-old youth from Pallegama, Homagama. It has been revealed that the suspect is a 22-year-old resident of Lunawa, Moratuwa. The Homagama Headquarters Police are to detain the three and conduct further investigations.