Author name: Tharindu Withanage

The Sri Lanka Police Headquarters has issued a public alert urging citizens to exercise caution when obtaining loans via the Internet or mobile phones, following an increase in complaints related to deceptive lending practices. According to the Police, a significant number of institutions are currently advertising loans online and through mobile platforms, often attractively presenting these offers. In some cases, unsolicited phone calls are also used to promote the availability of instant loans without any collateral requirements. However, reports received by the Sri Lanka Police reveal that many individuals are facing serious financial difficulties after obtaining such loans without paying due attention to the interest rates and repayment terms involved. Daily complaints indicate that, in many cases, borrowers are unexpectedly required to pay extremely high interest rates. Moreover, these institutions are allegedly engaging in unethical recovery practices such as repeatedly calling borrowers in a harassing manner and publishing defamatory content on social media platforms to shame those who fall behind on payments. In response to these concerns, the Sri Lanka Police conducted a joint inquiry with the Non-Banking Financial Institutions Supervision Department of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. Findings confirmed that many of the entities offering loans through digital platforms are not regulated by the Central Bank. The Central Bank has stated that steps are being taken to bring such institutions under proper regulatory oversight. In light of this situation, the Sri Lanka Police urge the public to obtain financial services only from institutions that are duly regulated by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to avoid potential exploitation and financial harm. For further information or to report any suspicious financial activities, members of the public are encouraged to contact their nearest police station or refer to the official website of the Central Bank.

The fugitive female suspect named Pinpura Devage Ishara Sewwandi, who was identified as the main suspect who aided and abetted the murder of Sanjeewa Kumara Samararatne alias ‘Ganemulla Sanjeewa,’ who was killed on 19. 02. 2025 at No. 05 Magistrate’s Court, Hulftsdorp, was arrested in Nepal during a joint operation conducted by the Sri Lanka Police and Nepal Security Force. Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mr. Rohan Olugala and the officers attached to the Criminal Investigation Department who were involved in the operation, have taken measures to bring back the said suspect and five other suspects who are suspected to be involved in organized crime to Sri Lanka on 15. 10. 2025. They were handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department for further legal action. More information will be revealed in the future on the murder of Sanjeewa Kumara Samararatne alias ‘Ganemulla Sanjeewa. The arrest of the fugitive, Ishara Sewwandi, can be considered another significant milestone of suppressing organized crimes.

Pinpura Devage Ishara Sewwandi, who aided and abetted the shooting and killing of organized criminal Ganemulla Sanjeewa inside the court premises on 19.02.2025, has been arrested in Nepal in a joint operation conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department and the Nepalese security forces.

A motorcar that had fled, attempting to run over police officers while they were trying to conduct a police check, was found abandoned on Janarajamawatha, Medawatta, Matara. Subsequently, its driver was arrested while hiding himself in a thicket behind the University of Ruhuna. Incident – When the Rapid-Response Motorcycle Unit attached to the Matara Division to combat drugs and organised crimes was about to inspect a suspicious car parked near a Vehicle Emission Testing Center in Wellamadama, Devinuwara at around 08.50 pm on 07.10.2025, the driver had fled by driving the car forward suddenly at high speed in a reckless manner, almost running over the officers. The vehicle was also hit by several gunshots fired by the officers, and having conducted an encirclement search operation to arrest the vehicle by the Matara Police Station, and Matara Divisional Crime Investigation Unit, initially the vehicle was located on the Janarajamawatha, Medawatta, Matara, and the suspect who had driven the car was arrested at around 10.30 pm while hiding in a thicket behind the University of Ruhuna. A car was subjected to a thorough search, and 2230 milligrams of narcotic ice, a live hand grenade, utensils used for consuming drugs, and an amount of one hundred and five thousand six hundred and thirty rupees (105630/=), suspected to have been earned from drug trafficking, were found. The Matara Headquarters Station has initiated further investigations into the suspect.

On the morning of 05.10.2025, a team of officers of the Matara District Crime Division conducted a raid in Harumalgoda of the Habaraduwa Police Area and arrested a suspect in possession of 03 kg 200 grams of hash and 11 grams 800 milligrams of narcotic ice. The suspect is a 31-year-old resident of Habaraduwa. Based on the information revealed by the above suspect, a suspect was arrested with 01 kg 200 grams of hash in Koggala of the Habaraduwa Police Area, another suspect with 01 kg of hash and another with 50 grams of hash in Baddegama of the Baddegama Police Area. They are 32, 39 and 42-year-old residents of Koggala and Baddegama areas. Based on the information uncovered by the suspects, three more suspects in possession of 150 grams of hash were arrested in the Midigama Police Area. They are 31, 33 and 42-year-old residents of Baddegama, Koggala, and Habaraduwa. All the suspects have been produced before the Habaraduwa, Baddegama, and Matara Police Stations and the Matara District Crime Division is conducting further investigations.