Author name: Tharindu Withanage

The 2026 Open Karate Championship, organized by the Sri Karate Do Task Force for the selection of the 2026 National Karate Do Squad, was held on 13.06.2026 at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium. Representing the Police Karate Team, 11 athletes competed in the championship. Among them, Sergeant U.P. J.M.R.C. Appuhami, who competed in the Kumite +84 kg category, secured third place and earned selection to the National Karate Squad. In addition, Police Constable 107216 Bandara, who competed in the Kumite -67 kg category, also claimed third place and was selected to represent the National Squad. Furthermore, the following nine officers demonstrated outstanding performances and successfully advanced to the Top 8 of their respective categories: 1. Police Constable 28912 Kariyawasam – Kumite -84 kg2. Police Constable 25497 Wijeratne – Kumite +84 kg3. Police Constable 25889 Gunasinghe – Kumite -67 kg4. Police Constable 24593 Buddhika – Kumite -84 kg5. Police Constable 27149 Chathuranga – Kumite -75 kg6. Police Constable 40540 Rohitha – Kumite -60 kg7. Police Constable 98437 Gayan – Kumite -55 kg8. Police Constable 99585 Kavindu – Kumite -55 kg9. Police Constable 107222 Gobihan – Kumite -55 kg A total of 1,800 athletes representing 450 sports clubs and associations from across the country participated in the championship, making it one of the largest karate competitions held this year. The Police Karate Association is led by Deputy Inspector General of Police Sisira Kumara as President, while Senior Superintendent of Police Sarathchandra Gunathilaka serves as Secretary. Inspector Rajivi Prasanna functions as the Team Leader, Inspector Pubudu Chathuranga as the Team Manager, and Jurampathy as the Team Coach.

With effect from 19 June 2026, the wearing of safety seat belts has become mandatory for all drivers and passengers travelling on expressways throughout the country. The Expressway Division of the Sri Lanka Police will closely monitor compliance with this regulation, which has been introduced under the National Road Safety Program implemented by the Ministry of Transport, Highways and Urban Development. To educate the public on the new requirement, an awareness campaign was conducted at the Kottawa Expressway Interchange on 16 and 17 June 2026 with the participation of internationally acclaimed Racing Champion Mr. Dilantha Malagamuwa. During the program, informational leaflets carrying the theme “A Click for Your Loved Ones” were distributed among drivers and passengers using the expressway. The campaign highlighted the importance of wearing seat belts from 19 June 2026 and encouraged road users to drive responsibly for their own safety and the protection of their loved ones. Accordingly, the three-month grace period granted to motorists and passengers to familiarize themselves with the seat belt regulation has now expired. Legal action will be taken against individuals who fail to comply with the law after 19 September 2026. The prescribed penalty for violating the seat belt regulation is a fine of Rs. 1,000. In accordance with the relevant legal provisions, the vehicle owner, driver, and passenger may each be held liable and subjected to the prescribed penalty for non-compliance. While the use of seat belts is already mandatory for drivers and front-seat passengers travelling on ordinary roads, this regulation requires all occupants of vehicles travelling on expressways to wear seat belts at all times. The awareness program was attended by National People’s Power Colombo District Member of Parliament Mr. Devananda Suraweera and Mr. R.A.D. Kahatapitiya, Deputy Director General of the Expressway Operations, Maintenance and Management Division of the Road Development Authority.

1st International Conference on Transnational Crime and Social Protection 2026 press conference

press conference

Two high-profile suspects allegedly involved in organized criminal activities, who were apprehended by the security authorities in Dubai and subsequently deported to Sri Lanka, were arrested by officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake, on the night of 13 June 2026. Following their arrest, arrangements were made to hand over the suspects to the Central Crime Investigation Bureau and the Colombo Central Crime Investigation Division for further inquiries and legal proceedings. The first suspect, who was handed over to the Central Crime Investigation Bureau, is a 25-year-old resident of Colombo 15. Significantly, his photograph had been incorporated into the advanced automated facial recognition system installed at the Katunayake Airport terminal since March 2025. Investigations have revealed that he is the younger brother of an organized crime figure and drug trafficker known as “Modara Nipuna,” who is currently residing overseas. According to police records, the suspect was arrested by the Pamunugama Police in 2019 for possession of cannabis and again in 2020 for allegedly assaulting an individual with a blunt object and a sharp weapon within the Modara Police Division. He had also been evading a warrant issued by Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court No. 04 since November 2022. The second suspect, who was handed over to the Colombo Central Crime Investigation Division, is a 40-year-old resident of Colombo 14. Investigations have identified him as a notorious criminal allegedly involved in a range of serious offences, including murder and drug trafficking. He has previously been produced before court in connection with an assault incident reported in Ganemulla in 2010 and for possession of heroin following an arrest in Kelaniya. Furthermore, he has been identified as a principal suspect in a fatal shooting that occurred in Colombo in 2015 and has also been indicted before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court for allegedly aiding and abetting the shooting attack on a prison transport bus in Maligawatta in 2016. Additionally, the suspect surrendered to the Terrorism Investigation Division through legal counsel in 2016 along with a firearm and ammunition. He was subsequently remanded and later released on bail. Investigations have further linked him to a grave shooting incident reported within the Grandpass Police Division in 2018, in which one individual was killed and three others sustained serious injuries. Further investigations into both suspects are being conducted jointly by the Central Crime Investigation Bureau and the Colombo North Crime Investigation Division.