Police News

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.

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.