Author name: Tharindu Withanage

Sri Lanka Police extends its sincere and profound appreciation to the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and its relevant authorities for their invaluable cooperation in the successful deportation of three (03) wanted suspects to Sri Lanka on 15 January 2026. This achievement was realized through close coordination and effective collaboration between Sri Lanka Police and the UAE authorities. This successful operation reflects the strong and longstanding partnership between Sri Lanka and the UAE and underscores the shared commitment of both nations to upholding the rule of law and enhancing regional and international security. Sri Lanka Police also gratefully acknowledges the continued support extended by the UAE Government and authorities in previous years. In 2024 and 2025, the UAE facilitated the deportation of eleven (11) wanted suspects to Sri Lanka, further demonstrating its steadfast commitment and cooperation in addressing transnational crime. Sri Lanka Police highly commends the professionalism, efficiency, and proactive assistance demonstrated by the UAE Government and its authorities throughout these operations. Sri Lanka Police remains deeply thankful to the UAE Government and looks forward to further strengthening this close and trusted collaboration with the United Arab Emirates in the collective effort to combat transnational crime and ensure justice and public safety.

The newly constructed “Rajarata Sisila” Junior Police House, which was built in the first lane of Arippu Road in the sacred city of Anuradhapura for the welfare of the junior police officers of the Sri Lanka Police, was opened on the afternoon of 17.01.2026 under the patronage of the Inspector General of Police, Attorney-at-Law, Mr. Priyantha Weerasooriya. Such police houses have been established in various parts of the island and this is the newly constructed house. Accordingly, this house has been built at a cost of nearly 20 million rupees and consists of two houses with all facilities and an administrative building. This will provide accommodation facilities to the families of junior police officers who come from outlying areas to visit the sacred city of Anuradhapura and its surrounding places. In conjunction with this ceremony, the IGP distributed 2750 gift vouchers worth Rs. 2,500/= to the children of police officers who sat for the 2025 scholarship examination and 2560 scholarship book sets to the children of police officers who are scheduled to sit for the 2026 scholarship examination, symbolizing the distribution of these vouchers and book sets to the children. Senior DIG in charge of the North Central Province Mr. T.C.A. Dhanapala, DIG in charge of the Anuradhapura District Mr. T.B.T. Sugathapala, Senior Superintendent of Police in charge of the Anuradhapura Division Mr. T.P. Thilina Hewa Pathirana, Junior Police Officers’ Association President Police Sergeant 50264 Mr. Suranjith Cooray, Secretary Police Sergeant 33362 Mr. Prabath Ekanayake and Treasurer Police Sergeant 29318 Mr. T.A.S.P Edward and a group of senior police officers participated in this event.

The Northern Province program of the “Ratama Ekata – National Mission,” aimed at eradicating narcotics, was held under the patronage of His Excellency President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on 16.01.2026 at the Jaffna Technical College Grounds. During the event, His Excellency the President presented cash awards and gifts to police officers of the Northern Province and members of the Tri-Forces in recognition of their direct and commendable contributions to narcotics-related operations. Addressing the gathering, the President noted that parents in the Northern Province, who once lived in fear for their children due to the war, now live in fear because of the growing threat of drug abuse. He emphasized that the national campaign launched to protect the youth from the drug menace—spreading indiscriminately across communities, cities and villages, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or socio-economic background—will be implemented with determination and will not be allowed to regress. The event was attended by members of the Maha Sangha of the Northern Province and other religious leaders, Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Ananda Wijepala, Governor of the Northern Province Nagalingam Vethanayagam, Jaffna District Members of Parliament Jeyachandramurthy Rajeevan, K. Ilankumaran, and Shanmuganathan Bhavanandaraja, along with other public representatives. Also present were the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, retired Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyyakontha, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security Ravi Seneviratne, Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasooriya, senior government officials, and a large number of members of the public.

Two suspects who were directly involved in serious criminal activities in Sri Lanka and had fled to Dubai, along with a female suspect who misappropriated government funds in 2024 and also escaped to Dubai, were brought back to Sri Lanka this morning (16 January 2026) via Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake. The suspects were arrested in recent days by the Abu Dhabi Police and Dubai Police on the basis of Red Notices issued at the request of the Sri Lanka Police through Interpol. Following coordination under international cooperation mechanisms established through extradition laws, the suspects were promptly handed over to the Sri Lanka Police. Of the returned suspects, one is a 52-year-old resident of Elpitiya and another is a 30-year-old resident of Kandana. The female suspect is a 56-year-old resident of Mount Lavinia. Investigations have revealed that the suspect from Kandana was directly involved in the shooting of an individual inside a vehicle on 3 July 2025. The suspect from Elpitiya was also identified as being involved in several organized criminal activities centered in the Urasmanganda area and was subject to Red Notices. The female suspect had previously been sentenced by the Colombo High Court to a term of imprisonment and a fine for defrauding government funds while employed at a foreign embassy in Sri Lanka. The two male suspects are to be handed over to the Kelaniya Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau and the Elpitiya Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau for further investigations, while the female suspect has been handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department. To date, the Sri Lanka Police has initiated action to obtain 95 Interpol Red Notices to apprehend suspects hiding overseas. As a result of these efforts, 10 suspects were taken into custody in 2024 and a further 11 suspects in 2025.