Author name: Tharindu Withanage

During a special operation conducted by the Western Province Southern Crime Division, the principal suspect involved in a murder and a separate shooting incident in the Dehiwala area was arrested in possession of a foreign-manufactured revolver. The arrest was carried out on the afternoon of 23.01.2026 within the Kottawa Police Division. The arrested individual is a 35-year-old resident of Dehiwala. Investigations have revealed that he is a former member of the Sri Lanka Army who was lawfully discharged from service in 2013. Based on information obtained during interrogation, police were able to recover the foreign revolver used in the crimes, which had been concealed inside an abandoned house within the Dehiwala Police Division. The suspect has been identified as the second gunman involved in the shooting incident on Wanaratne Road, Dehiwala, on 06.12.2025, in which one person was killed and another sustained injuries. The other suspect connected to this crime was previously arrested in possession of a 16-bore firearm and has since been remanded. Further investigations have also confirmed that the arrested suspect was the primary shooter in a separate incident on 30.12.2025, during which a 16-year-old girl was shot and injured in the Bodhiwatte area of Kohuwala. According to police investigations, both shooting incidents were carried out under the instructions of an organized criminal and drug trafficker who is currently residing overseas. The suspect is scheduled to be produced before the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court today (24.01.2026), while further investigations are being conducted by the Western Province Southern District Crime Division.

(01) Colombo North Divisional Crime Investigation Bureau – A team of officers from the Colombo North Divisional Crime Investigation Bureau conducted a raid in the Stayspura area, Grandpass on the evening of 21.01.2026 and arrested a suspect with 213 g of heroin and presented them to the Grandpass Police Station. The suspect is a 42-year-old resident of Colombo 14. (02) Madampitiya Police – On 22.01.2026, a team of officers from the Madampitiya Police, who had inspected three suspicious persons in a three-wheeler parked near the Sathhiru Sevana Apartment Building, Madampitiya, arrested three persons in possession of the drug Ice. One suspect was found in possession of a bag containing 01.300 kg of ice, an electronic scale and Rs. 18,000/- (eighteen thousand) in cash believed to have been obtained from heroin trafficking. The second suspect was found in possession of 100 g and 150 mg of ice, and the third suspect was found in possession of 201 g of ice. The suspects are 24, 32 and 29 years old and are residents of Wellampitiya, Mattakkuliya and Colombo 15. Madampitiya Police is conducting further investigations into the two suspects. (03) Mount Lavinia Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau – On the evening of 22.01.2026, a team of officers from the Mount Lavinia Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau was able to arrest a person in possession of 154 g and 300 mg of hashish and 15 g and 300 mg of ice at the junction turning into Isurusiri Mawatha in the Egodauyana Police Division. At the time of arrest, the suspect was in possession of Rs. 105100/= (one hundred and fifty thousand) and the money was suspected to have been earned from drug trafficking and was handed over to the police. The Egodauyana Police is conducting further investigations. (04) Haldummulla Police – A team of officers from the Haldummulla Police arrested a suspect with 32 kg of cannabis at the Ilukpelassa Reserve, Haldummulla on the morning of 22.01.2026. The suspect is a 45-year-old resident of Kalthota. Further investigations are underway by the Haldummulla Police. (05) Kelaniya Divisional Crime Investigation Bureau – A team of officers from the Kelaniya Divisional Crime Investigation Bureau conducted a raid in the Kandana area on the morning of 22.01.2026 and seized 30 g and 120 mg of the drug Ice, an electronic scale and Rs. 51,000/= (fifty-one thousand) suspected to have been earned from drug trafficking. The suspect is a 42-year-old resident of Wellampitiya. (06) Hambegamuwa Police – A cannabis farm with 12580 (twelve thousand five hundred and eighty) cannabis plants cultivated in an area of about one acre in the Siripura Reserve area of Hambegamuwa and a cannabis farm with 11700 (eleven thousand seven hundred) cannabis plants cultivated in an area of about one acre were discovered and destroyed by a team of officers of the Hambegamuwa Police Station on 22.01.2026. Also, two suspects were arrested with 21 kg and 300 g of cannabis and 17 kg and 300 g of cannabis in the Hambegamuwa 17 Colony area. The suspects are residents of the Hambegamuwa area aged 51 and 63 years.  

Two suspects were arrested on 22.01.2026, when a team of officers from the Madampitiya Police searched a three-wheeler parked near the Sathhiru Sevana Apartment in Madampitiya and found ice in their possession. The two suspects were arrested along with the three-wheeler. The suspects are 24 and 29 years old and are residents of Wellampitiya and Colombo 15. One suspect was found in possession of a bag containing 01.300kg of Ice, an electronic scale and Rs. 18,000/- (eighteen thousand) in cash suspected to have been earned from drug trafficking, while the other suspect was found in possession of 201g of ice. Further investigations are being conducted at the Madampitiya Police regarding the incident.  

The Special Operations Western North Unit operating from the Gonahena camp of the Police Special Task Force (STF) arrested a suspect in possession of 61kg and 838g of crystal methamphetamine (commonly known as “ice”) during a raid conducted in the Pinnagolla Watta area of Nittambuwa on the evening of 20.01.2026. Investigations have revealed that the suspect is an associate of a key suspect currently residing overseas, who is allegedly involved in large-scale drug trafficking and organized criminal activities within the country. The arrested individual is a 45-year-old resident of the Pinnagolla Watta area, Nittambuwa. The suspect was apprehended while transporting the stock of narcotics in a three-wheeler. Following the arrest, the Police Special Task Force handed over both the suspect and the seized narcotics to the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) for further investigations.

Officers of the Child and Women Abuse Prevention Bureau, who launched an investigation into a video that recently circulated on social media depicting a man forcibly stripping a woman, identified the victim and arrested the principal suspect on 18 January 2026 while he was in hiding at a well-known hotel in the Hikkaduwa area. Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of two residents of the Eheliyagoda area, aged 44 and 55, who had allegedly assisted the main suspect and helped conceal evidence from the police. The Child and Women Abuse Prevention Bureau has taken steps to present the relevant facts before the Aluthkade Magistrate’s Court and to obtain a travel ban order against the principal suspect. According to information uncovered during the investigation, the suspect had stripped a woman employed as a domestic aide at his residence in the presence of a group, recorded the act, and circulated the footage on social media via a WhatsApp group. Investigations have further revealed that, following the incident, the suspect had stayed at several prominent hotels in an attempt to evade arrest by the police. Further inquiries into the arrested suspects are currently being carried out by the Child and Women Abuse Prevention and Investigation Bureau.

If an unknown individual or organization contacts you via social media or telephone claiming to offer a job opportunity, informing you that you have won a prize, or making false allegations and requesting that you deposit money into an account to avoid legal action, do not act hastily. Refrain from making any payments and verify the authenticity of such claims thoroughly. If you believe you have been defrauded or have suffered a financial loss by any means, please report the incident immediately by contacting one of the following numbers: Computer Crime Investigation Division (CCID): Deputy Director: 011-2300638Personal Assistant: 011-2381375Officer in charge : 011-2381058 According to complaints received from police stations across the island, it has been observed that these frauds are carried out through various methods, including obtaining bank account details, passwords, One-Time Passwords (OTP), QR codes, as well as through malicious internet links, extensions, and scan codes. In some instances, fraudsters impersonate bank officials, contact victims, obtain sensitive banking information, and intimidate them by falsely claiming that money linked to drug trafficking has been deposited into their accounts. Several such incidents have recently been reported to the Mirihana Special Crime Investigation Unit, as well as to the Padukka Police Station, where suspects posed as police officers and attempted to obtain bank details and money from the public. Members of the public are strongly advised to adhere to the following safety precautions when receiving such calls: Safety Guidelines * Verify information through official and authorized channels. * Never share bank details, National Identity Card (NIC) numbers, login credentials, OTPs, passwords, PIN numbers, or personal photographs with third parties. *Avoid clicking on suspicious or unfamiliar links. * Use only trusted and verified accounts or platforms. *Always confirm the identity of the caller or organization before making any financial transactions. *The contact numbers of the Mirihana Police Special Crime Investigation Unit, which has received numerous complaints regarding such fraudulent activities, are provided below: *Mirihana Special Crime Investigation Unit: 011-2852556 * Officer-in-Charge / Mirihana Special Crime Investigation Unit: 075-3994214