Police News

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.

Through investigations carried out by the Western Province North Crimes Division concerning the five suspects arrested in Indonesia and brought to the country on 30. 08.2025, information emerged about a plot of land in Middeniya, Thalawa South area containing a stash of chemical substances believed to have been imported for the production of ‘Ice’ within the country. When carrying out investigations on the stock of chemical substances found on that land, a separate search operation was carried out by a group of officers of the Special Task Force in the said land, and they discovered five live hand grenades, 17 rounds of live ammunition for a T-56 assault rifle, two live rounds of 12-bore shotgun ammunition, and an empty magazine on 06.09.2025. During a search and excavation operation carried out by the officers of Middeniya Police Station on 08.09.2025, police sportswear and equipment used by police officers for field operations, fabric and accessories resembling official police uniforms, were found. The Middeniya Police Station has taken these items into custody and further investigations are to be initiated in this regard.

During an investigation conducted by Kalutara Crime Division, a suspect has been arrested in the evening of 07 – 09 – 2025 in Arukgoda, Panadura for keeping passion of a T-56 firearm, 30 ammunition and 02 grams and 200 milligrams of Ice drug (Crystal Meth). The said division arrested a 38-year-old person in the morning of the same day, in Arukgoda Panadura with 02 grams and 200 milligrams of Ice drug. In addition to that 07 mobile phones and a motorcycle have also been detained on suspicion of being used for drug trafficking. During the investigations conducted, it has been revealed that this suspect was the one who aided and abetted to the shooting at a house in Pinwatta Police Area on 25. 05. 2025 and the shooting incident in Hirana Police Area on 11. 07. 2025, causing injuries to a person. Based on the information revealed by the suspect who is a resident of Arukgoda Arubomulla area, information regarding the T-56 firearm and the suspect has been uncovered. The suspect who was arrested in connection with the firearm is a 38-year-old and a resident of the Gonapala, Horana area. Kalutara Crime Division conducts further investigations on the suspect.

The Colombo North Divisional Crime Investigation Bureau, which is conducting investigations into the crime of shooting and killing an individual near the Mahawatta Clock Tower in the Grandpass Police Division on 05.09.2025 committed by two unidentified persons, has arrested two suspects on 07.09.2025 in the Bloemendhal area. The two suspects are 31 and 32 years old, and it has been revealed that one of them had provide the firearm for the crime while the other had acted as the driver of the three-wheeler in which the firearm was transported. The suspects are residents of Colombo 15. Further investigations regarding the incident and the suspects are being carried out by the Grandpass Police Station.

A group of wanted suspects known by the aliases Kehelbaddara Padme, Commando Salintha, Backhoe Saman, and Nilanga, have been arrested through a joint special operation carried out in Indonesia by Interpol, a special team of the Sri Lanka Police, and a team of the Indonesian police, after it was revealed that a group of Sri Lankan organized criminals was residing in Indonesia.   Another woman with them has also been taken into custody.

The suspect involved in the incident of obstructing police duty by assaulting and injuring a police officer on duty during the protest held in front of the Fort Magistrate’s Court on 26.08.2025 regarding former President Ranil Wickremesinghe was arrested by the Colombo Crimes Division on 27.08.2025 in Kalutara town. The suspect is a 52-year-old former Pradeshiya Sabha member residing in Nagoda, Kalutara. The Kompannavidiya Police Station is conducting further investigations into the suspect and the incident. 

Police officers exert themselves day and night towards the successful completion of an investigation they have either initiated or participated in, no matter how difficult it is. It is a natural desire to hold the fond memory of professional achievements and to see justice being served to an aggrieved party.  One such feat is the investigation conducted by Wellawatta Police Station for 10 days to uncover the three suspects who robbed a lady doctor, who remained near a bus stop in the Wellawatte Police Area, of her property and cash worth nearly Rs. 453,000, including a bag containing a laptop and the gold necklace she was wearing, by holding her at knifepoint on 15.08.2025 at around 04.25 a.m. Having identified the suspects, fleeing on a motorcycle, with the help of CCTV footages, the investigation officers have monitored various footages retrieved with difficulty from around 500 CCTV cameras installed on major roads and by-roads for 10 days, covering a distance of about 73 kilometres, in the hope that the suspects will eventually stop somewhere. Finally, the two suspects have been arrested in the Eheliyagoda area, and the officers have been able to take the stolen laptop and gold necklace into their custody. It has been revealed that one suspect is a 44-year-old resident of Avissawella and the other is a 40-year-old resident of Eheliyagoda. Further investigation is underway to find the third suspect and other property and cash.

In the early hours of 24.08.2025, 02 men arrived in a three-wheeler and opened fire on two pedestrians walking along Malani Bulathsinhala Mawatha, Boralesgamuwa, and from the shooting, one died and the other got injured. Investigations into this incident have been carried out by the Western Province South Range Crime Division and the Police Special Task Force, and based on a piece of information disclosed, a group of officers attached to the Moratuwa Camp of the Police Special Task Force arrested the alleged gunman in connection to this crime in Nawinna of Maharagama Police area in the evening on 25.08.2025. At the time of arrest, 20 grams and 550 milligrams of heroin were in the possession of the suspect. The 24-year-old suspect, who is a resident of Colombo 13, has been handed over to the Western Province South Range Crime Division for carrying out further investigations. Further investigations are being conducted by the Western Province South Range Crime Division.

A male suspect and a female suspect have been arrested on the morning of 26.08.2025 by the Western Province South Crime Division, which is conducting investigations into the unidentified gunman and motorcyclist who shot and attempted to murder a man at a house on Station Road in the Dehiwala Police Area on 18.07.2025. According to the information revealed, they had aided and abetted the crime. The 23-year-old suspect, who is a resident of the Polgasowita area, was arrested in the Boralesgamuwa area. At the time of arrest, he was in possession of 12 grams and 20 milligrams of the narcotic ice. The female suspect, who was arrested in the Delgahawatta, Halpita area, is a 38-year-old resident of the Kesbewa area.  The Western Province South Crime Division is conducting further investigations into the crime.

A suspect who was staying in the Vavuniya Police Division for defrauding about 150 people of about Rs. 150 million by promising them jobs in the Korean state was arrested by officers of the Colombo Central Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau on the morning of 24.08.2025. The arrest was made in the Tharekulam area of Puwarasankulam, Vavuniya and the suspect has been produced at the Kompanyaveediya Police Station, where the complaint was received.  He is a 41-year-old resident of Colombo 15. A jeep, an attorney’s license related to a land and two mobile phones suspected to have been purchased with the defrauded money have been taken into police custody from the suspect’s possession.  The Colombo Central Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau is conducting further investigations.