Police News

In the afternoon of 17.09.2025, the two suspects who fled by attacking a sergeant of the Negombo Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau with a sharp weapon at a house in the Kadirana area were arrested in the Kadirana and Disagewatta areas of the Katana Police Division on 19.09.2025 by officers of the bureau. During the inspection of the relevant house on 17.09.2025, the said two suspects had fled as such by attacking the sergeant. The sergeant who was admitted to the District Hospital, Negombo, with wounds on the forehead and right hand has now been discharged from the hospital. At the time of arrest, one suspect was found in possession of 1kg and 15g of narcotic ‘ice’ and 321g and 220mg of heroin. The other suspect was found in possession of 103 g and 880 mg of heroin. The Katana Police Station has received the respective suspects, aged 26 and 27, who are residents of Thimbirigaskatuwa, Negombo, for further investigation.

A team of officers from the Habarana Police Station arrested a person in possession of three counterfeit notes of Five Thousand Rupees at the Habarana town, on the evening of 17.09.2025. Upon interrogation, two more suspects, each in possession of two counterfeit notes of Five Thousand Rupees, were able to be arrested in the areas of Habarana and Anuradhapura areas, and based on the information revealed, officers of Habarana Police Station raided a house in the Pihimbiyagollewa Police Area in the early hours of 18.09.2025, and arrested the suspect involved in printing counterfeit currency, along with 138 counterfeit notes of Five Thousand Rupees, a laptop, a scanner, and a printer. The suspects, aged between 23 and 42 years, are residents of Habarana, Anuradhapura, and Pedewa areas. The Habarana Police Station is conducting further investigations regarding the suspects. When using currency notes, please be vigilant as to whether they are counterfeit notes. Be cautious, especially when receiving a large sum of money at once in a transaction. Please inform the Sri Lanka Police, immediately after receiving any information about individuals in possession of counterfeit currency and making transactions with them.

A 32-year-old resident of Balangoda area, who was operating a drone in the vicinity of Ruwanweliseya without obtaining permission from the Department of Archaeology, was arrested on the evening of 17.09.2025, by the Anuradhapura Headquarters Police. A Chinese national who visited the country on a tourist visa was also arrested on 15.09.2025 for illegally flying a drone near the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy without obtaining any permission. In such circumstances, since actions are being taken to seize drones as productions, please refrain from operating drones near ancient sites, high-security locations, and areas with religious significance. Before flying your drone, please contact the appropriate government authorities, including the police, to obtain the necessary permission, as they will respond to your request accordingly.

Officers of the Police Special Task Force Headquarters have taken action to arrest a person on 16. 09. 2025 at Baduraliya for keeping possession of an additional quantity of ammunition violating the terms and conditions on the License obtained for a foreign-made pistol type firearm. A magazine which can be loaded 09mm ammunition, and 30 of such live ammunition have also been seized. The suspect is a 51-year-old and a resident of the same area.

By the culvert of Iratte on the Manmunai road in the Vavunathivu police area, officers of the Police Special Task Force, Kalawanchikudy camp, have arrested two persons, who were travelling in a cab, in possession of 446 litres of illicit liquor, an iron plate and a weapon that resembles a hand axe.  Two officers on roadblock duty, who saw a suspicious cab coming from the Kokkadicholay area, had pursued the cab, and when it reached the Panchena area, it was stopped, and upon inspection, the drivers in the vehicle had attempted to flee after hitting the two officers.  An officer who immediately took measures, shot at the cab with his service firearm and stopped it and apprehended the relevant stock of liquor and weapon during the inspection. The two suspects are 37 and 40-year-old residents of the Kokkadicholay area.

The suspect who murdered a woman and a man residing in a house in the Kabulagoda area of the Randeniya Police Area on the evening of 11.09.2025 with a sharp weapon was arrested in the Kotawila area of Karandeniya on the evening of 13.09.2025. Based on a tip-off from an intelligence officer, a team of officers from the Karandeniya Police Station arrested the suspect in a large cinnamon plantation in Kotawala. A hand grenade was also seized from him. Investigating officers have seized a sharp knife suspected to be used in the crime. The suspect is a 44-year-old resident of the area. The victims were a 74-year-old woman and a 25-year-old youth. The Karandeniya Police Station is conducting further investigations.

Officers attached to Special Operations Unit 03 of the Police Special Task Force arrested two suspects on 12. 09. 2025, riding a motor bike of which both number plates are covered with black tape, making them barely readable. They were heading from Egoda Uyana area to Moratuwa. The arrest was made around 9 pm. Having uncovered that they attempted to snatch gold chains, measures have been taken to hand over the suspects to the Moratuwa Police Station, for further investigation. Three incidents of snatching gold chains, after threatening women were reported on 12. 08. 2025 from two areas of the island. In the morning of the same, it has been reported that two women tightly grabbed a woman and tied her neck and robbed her gold chain while she was walking on the road near the cemetery heading to the market street near the Madhu Church in Mannar. Another incident of a man and a woman had tied another woman walking on the road and snatched her gold chain and fled. Investigations have been initiated to arrest those groups. The third incident was reported on the same day at the 6th lane of the Yakkala-Hansagiriya road around 01.30. An unidentified person on a motorcycle had snatched a gold chain of a 74-year-old woman, while she was walking on the road. “As soon as you encounter such an incident, please make sure contact the nearest police station or 119 police emergency number and inform the color, the license plate the vehicle on which the criminals fled, the color and details  of the attire, and the color of the protective helmet. More truthful information you provide, the easier it will be to track down and arrest the suspects.”

Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau – Tangalle has conducted the investigation on the double homicide committed on 24. 06. 2025 in Thekkawatta Road of  Middeniya Police Area, and arrested three suspects on 08. 09. 2025 in Embilipitiya in connection with the crime. The suspects are 25-year-old and are residents of Embilipitiya area. The following weapons and property were recovered during interrogation conducted on the suspects.  The Ushi-type firearm used for the shooting 09 mm pistol 53 number of 10 mm live ammunition 25 number of foreign-manucatured 12-bore ammunition 04 number of live ammunition marked No. 45 19 number of T-56 live ammunition  02 number of T-56 empty cartridges, A pair of handcuffs 300 grams and 120 milligrams of Heroin Further investigations are conducted by Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau – Tangalle.  

The Sri Lanka Police wishes to draw the attention of the general public to the serious risks associated with the indiscriminate use of sky lanterns during festive seasons and special celebrations across the island. It has been observed that many individuals release sky lanterns of different sizes, which are propelled into the sky using an open flame. While these lanterns may appear entertaining, they pose a significant fire hazard as they may drift uncontrollably and fall to the ground while still alight. If such lanterns descend onto sensitive or vulnerable locations such as fireworks manufacturing sites, fuel stations, petroleum storage facilities, residential homes, commercial buildings, or crowded public spaces, they can trigger destructive fires, resulting in severe damage to property and even the loss of lives. Notably, the release of sky lanterns has also been witnessed at Galle Face Green in Colombo. Should one of these lanterns ignite and land on a high-risk location, apartment complex, or densely populated area, the consequences could be catastrophic, leading to extensive destruction and casualties. In light of these dangers, the Sri Lanka Police strongly emphasizes the importance of raising public awareness and urges citizens to exercise the highest level of caution and responsibility when considering the release of sky lanterns, even during festive occasions. By acting responsibly, the public can play a vital role in preventing avoidable tragedies and safeguarding both lives and property.