Author name: Tharindu Withanage

“1997”, a new hotline has been operated 24 hours a day allowing you to report information related to drug trafficking and any other illegal activities, anonymously. The main operations room for the hotline is established at the Special Bureau Headquarters, Malalasekara Mawatha, Colombo 07, attached to Police Headquarters. The Acting Inspector General of Police has instructed all police officers to ensure confidentiality of the informants who provide information through this hotline. The information related to following areas can be provided to the Police through this hotline. • Information regarding narcotics, Crimes, large-scale corruptions, activities that may pose a threat to the national security • Information related to misuse, hiding or theft of government vehicles and property • Information related to harassment, nuisance or issues affecting the safety of foreign tourists • Information related to ragging in Universities and in Higher Educational Institutions • Information regarding misconducts of police officers such as conducting fraudulent activities, bribery etc. • Information regarding environmental crimes • Any other crucial information For the public in the Northern and Eastern provinces, the hotline “107” is available to report information in Tamil language.  

A 29-year-old resident of Wijayagama, Udahenthanna area, who was transporting 1,160 kg of refuse tea unhealthy for human consumption in a lorry, was arrested by a team of officers of the Gampola camp of the Special Task Force on 28.01.2025 near the temple in Bothalapitiya, Gampola police area and handed him over to the Gampola police station for further investigation. On 28.01.2025, the officers of the Police Special Task Force Udawalawa camp raided a ganja-growing chena in Embilipitiya reserve area, Thanamalwila, and arrested one suspect along with 9875 ganja trees about 02 feet high and presented him to the Thanamalwila police station.  The suspect is 22 years old and a resident of Dawarayaya area.      

In such a manner that does not cause any obstruction to school children on days, 29.01.2025, 30.01.2025, 01.02.2025 and 02.02.2025, during which the rehearsals for the 77th National Independence Day Celebration will be held, and on 04.02.2025, the day the Independence Day Celebration will be held, complete traffic restrictions will be imposed on the following roads from 08.00 am to 12.00 pm. A. Entry from Torrington Junction, Bauddhaloka Mawatha towards Premakeerthi De Alwis Mawatha   B. Entry from R. F. P. Junction towards Ministry of Public Administration  C. Entry from Vidya Mawatha Junction Wijerama towards Vidya Mawatha  D. Entry from Maitland Crescent Junction, R. G. Senanayake Mawatha towards Independence Roundabout  E. Entry from Independence Roundabout, Independence Avenue towards Maitland Crescent  F. Entry from Foundation Mawatha Junction, Stanley Wijesundara Mawatha towards Independence Avenue  G. Entry from Independence Roundabout towards Independence Square  H. Entry from Library Roundabout towards Horton Roundabout (Restricted) I. Entry from Independence-Foundation Junction to Independence Avenue Roads that can be used to enter Colombo City avoiding areas where road closures or restrictions have been imposed: 01. Vehicles coming from the direction of Nanda Motors can turn right from the Independence Roundabout and enter Bauddhaloka Mawatha via Philip Gunawardena Mawatha and Stanley Wijesundara Mawatha 02. Vehicles coming from Bauddhaloka Mawatha towards Horton Roundabout can proceed along Wijerama Mawatha and travel towards Horton Place via Horton-Wijerama  03. Vehicles coming from Wijerama Mawatha towards Thummulla from Vidya-Wijerama Junction can proceed towards Bullers Wijerama via Vidya-Wijerama Junction and proceed towards Cemetery and Thummulla.   Parking lots and parking capacity – • Parking lot near Rupavahini Corporation (250 light vehicles) • Parking lot inside BMICH No. 02 Gate (350 light vehicles) • CR & FC parking lot (250 light vehicles)  • Parking lot inside BMICH No. 04 Gate (550 light vehicles) • Parking lot inside BMICH No. 03 Gate (150 light vehicles) • Independence Mawatha Arcade parking lot (30 light vehicles) • Premakeerthi De Alwis Mawatha parking lot (30 light vehicles) • ITI parking lot (75 light vehicles)  • Nelum Pokuna Theater parking lot (75 buses)  • Sarana Road, Road around BMICH Premises (230 light vehicles / 75 buses)  During the road closures and traffic restrictions, residents of the relevant roads may travel as per the instructions of police traffic officers.  Measures will be taken to open the above roads for normal traffic flow once the rehearsals and Independence Day Celebrations are over.  

A 32-year-old individual was arrested on 26-01-2025 at Ganegoda of  Rathgama Police Area by a group of officers of Police Special Task Force, Rathgama Camp, for keeping possession of 23 kg of amber alias whale waste illegally. He was handed over to the Police Station, Rathgama for further investigation. The suspect is a resident of the area, and it has been revealed that the estimated value of the seized amber is approximately Fifty Million Rupees. Due to the life threats caused to the whales living in the deep sea in order to obtain amber, which is mainly used in the perfume industry, possessing and selling amber is liable to arrest and be charged under Section 24(1) of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance.  

During a raid conducted by the officers of Special Raid Unit at the Special Task Force, 03 Kg and 349 grams of Ash drugs, 25 grams of Kush drugs, 30 grams of Mandirof drugs, 320 tablets, and 129 drug stamps and an air pistol have been seizedල on 24-01-2025 at Wimalasiri de Mel Mawatha, Mount Lavinia. The suspect, who has been arrested, is at the age of 29 year. It has been revealed during the investigation that the arrested suspect has smuggled drugs under the direction of a drug dealer who is in Prison. Police Station, Mount Lavinia conducts further investigations in connection to the incident.    

Suspect arrested with Kerala Cannabis A group of Police officers in Police Narcotic Bureau( Jaffna Unit) have arrested a suspect who was in possession of 101 kg and 83 g of Kerala Cannabis, during a raid carried out at the Antani Puram beach in the Palali police division and produced them to the police station Palaly. The suspect has been identified as a 67-year-old resident of Wamunei. This stock of Kerala Cannabis was found in five fertilizer bags and Police Station Palaly is carrying out further investigations in this regard.   

Officers of the Police Special Task Force of the Gonahena camp raided an illegal liquor distillery being run in a house on Maya Terrace Mawatha in Kiribathgoda Police Area on the afternoon of 23.01.2025. The officers were able to find 4975 bottles of liquor with the capacity of180 ml, manufactured using the name and labels of a government-approved well-known liquor manufacturing company, 228 liters of liquor to be bottled, 110 liters of ethanol, a bottle sealing machine and many other tools and equipment. Along with these, 06 suspects aged between 27-37 years who were present at the place were taken into custody. The suspects have been identified as residents of Nuwara Eliya, Nawalapitiya, Kiribathgoda, Bombuwala and Kurunegala areas, and all the seized property, including equipment and alcohol, have been handed over to the Offier in Charge of the Excise Department, Ja Ela station, for further investigation. .

One officer of the Colombo North Division motorcycle team has acted to stop a car by shooting that was driving continuously despite police orders on the night of 23.01.2025 at Kalupalama area.    This shooting was done due to the failure of the attempt to stop the chase by the motorcycle, and one of the suspects who was traveling in the car got minor injuries.  These two suspects, aged 45, who have been found to be residents of Wattala area, have been submitted to Modara Police Station for further investigations.   

During a raid conducted on 22-01-2025, by the officers of Police Narcotics Bureau, 11 kilograms and 02 grams of Ice Drug (Crystal Meth), and 180 grams of Heroin, together with an amount of Rs. 255,000/=, suspected to have been earned by drug trafficking, have been seized from a house  in Kahantota Mawatha of Malambe. When the raid was conducted, a 31-year-old person who is a resident of Malwana area stayed at the house.  He was taken into Police custody together with a car parked at the house that may have been used for drug trafficking.