Police News

A stash of narcotics – ice weighing 65 kilograms and 720 grams, and a stash of heroin weighing 52 kilograms and 280 grams, were apprehended from a vehicle near the entrance to the Fishery Harbour Kudawella in Tangalle, by two officers of the Tangalle Police Station who were on traffic duty at around 01.00 a.m. on 13.04.2025, during a random inspection conducted on a lorry.  This stash of narcotics had been found inside 49 packets of heroin, packed in around 07 bags of fertiliser. Having arrested the driver of this lorry and his assistant along with 02 satellite phones and narcotics, they were produced to the Tangalle Police Station.  The Tangalle Police Station has initiated further investigations to arrest the other suspects involved in this.

The Acting IGP has instructed senior officers and OICs through a special message to take measures to identify and subdue organized drug trafficking networks which involves in smuggling, transporting, trafficking and keeping possession of narcotics. In addition to that, strict measures are to be taken to plan the task in connection with implementing further legal action in this regard. Accordingly, instructions have been given to collect intelligence information on Police Division level with effect from 13.04.2025. Subsequently, having identified drug networks currently active in Police Areas, special operations covering all territorial Police Divisions are to be conducted to arrest such them. Instructions have been given to deploy permanent and immediate roadblocks, and to conduct raids and patrols in accordance with existing legal provisions. During such operation, officers of Police Special Task Force and Military Units, as well as the Police K9, will be deployed, if needed. Further instructions have been given to obtain a detention order from the Court in cases where the allocated time is not sufficient for the investigations conducted on suspects arrested in connection with drug trafficking. If it discovered during the investigations against drug traffickers that suspects have earned any property through drug trafficking, a separate investigation should be conducted under the Money Laundering Act. For this purpose, steps will be taken to refer the investigations to the Criminal Investigation Department.

It has been reported that a Police Constable attached to the Katugastota Police Station risked his life to save a life. When Police Constable 103984 Herath, was engaged in traffic duty close to the Katugastota Bridge on 10-04-2025, he was informed that a young woman had fallen into the Mahaweli River from the Katugastota Bridge. Without a second though, he jumped into the river in his uniform and rescued the woman. Initially, she was then given the first aid and then she was admitted to Katugastota Hospital for treatment with the support of the residents. Police Constable 103984 Herath is praised and appreciated not only by the residents of the area, but also police officers.  He is at the age of 24 years and a permanent resident of Dehiattakandiya. He has completed basic Police training at the Mahiyanganaya Police College.  All police officers are commended for their bravery, who shine as they perform a humanitarian mission beyond their duties!

A team of officers from the Dungalpitiya Police Station, in conjunction with Navy officers, arrested two suspects with nearly 190 kilograms of Kerala cannabis in the Lellama area of Negombo in a raid carried out on the morning of 09.04.2025. The suspects, aged 35 and 42, are residents of Pesale and Mannar, and the amount of Kerala cannabis seized from their possession is worth over Rs. 110 million.  Police officers and navy officers have discovered a stock of cannabis during an inspection of a lorry, and a car linked to the cannabis racket has also been taken into police custody after it was abandoned in the Keselwatte Police Division. Dungalpitiya Police are conducting further investigations.

A team of officers of the Special Operations Unit, Police Special Task Force Headquarters, arrested a person in possession of 173 grams of narcotic-ice in the Ela Ivura Road, Wattala on the night of 06.04.2025 and produced him to the Wattala Police Station. The suspect is a 32-year-old resident of Wattala. Wattala Police Station is conducting further investigations into the said person. Similarly, a team of officers from the Colombo Central Divisional Crime Investigation Bureau arrested a person in possession of 50 grams and 170 milligrams of heroin during a raid conducted on the night of 2025.04.06 in the Bandaria Lane of  Maradana Police Division, and produced him to the Maradana Police Station for further investigations. The suspect is a 55-year-old resident of Colombo 12.  

Officers of the Police Organized Crime Control Unit of Special Task Force raided an illicit liquor racket operating in the Muthurajawela area of Pamunugama on the morning of 06.04.2025, while taking into custody 378 liters of illicit liquor stored ready for sale, 3683 liters of Goda used for production, 12 copper coils, 30 barrels, and 12 cans, along with a number of other paraphernalia. One suspect has been arrested and has been produced to the Pamunugama Police Station for further investigations.  

A woman and a man who stood close to a ready-made garment outlet in Kumarakanda, Hikkaduwa were shot by two unidentified persons on a motorcycle on the night of 03-04-2025. The man was dead and the woman was seriously injured. One suspect who was said to have aided and abetted the crime was arrested by officers of Hikkaduwa Police Station on 07.04.2025 in Ginimellagaha area of the Hikkaduwa Police Area. The suspect who is 23-year-old, is a resident of Gonapinuwala area. Further investigation has been conducted by Hikkaduwa Police Station. In addition to that, two suspects wanted in connection with the shooting two persons who were traveling on a motorcycle on 21-03-2025 in Sinhasana Road, Gandara area have surrendered to the Gandara Police Station on 07-04-2025 along with their lawyers. These suspects, who are at the age of 26 and 35, are residents of Gandara and Devinuwara areas.  Facts have been revealed that one of these two individuals is the shooter in this homicide incident. Further investigations are conducted in connection with these two suspects, who are currently in the custody of the Homicide and Organized Crime Investigation Division.

A group of officers attached to the Police Special Task Force-Kilinochchi camp have arrested an individual who was travelling by motorcycle in possession of 16 kg and 960 g of Kerala cannabis on the Aleadi road, Kilinochchi, around 12:10 a.m. on 02.04.2025, and the said individual was produced to the Kilinochchi Police Station for further investigations. Accordingly, investigations are being conducted by the Kilinochchi Police Station regarding the suspect, a resident of the Bharathipuram area, and to arrest accomplices associated with the suspect. Moreover, three suspects who were in possession of 15 kg and 180 g of Kerala cannabis were arrested while staying in Ganeshapuram, Nellikulam, in the morning of 02.04.2025 during a raid carried out by the officers in the Special Task Force – Vavuniya Camp. Further investigations are being carried out by the Police Station, Nellikulam regarding those suspects.

Officers of the Southern Province Special Operations Unit of the Police Special Task Force have arrested a person who was riding a motorcycle in possession of a foreign-made pistol in the Rathgama, Boossa area, on the evening of 02.04.2025. According to a piece of information disclosed during further questioning of the suspect, who is 32 years old and a resident of the Rathgama area, a 60-year-old woman who was a resident of the same area was also taken into custody on the same day in possession of a micro pistol and 09mm ammunition. They have been handed over to the Rathgama Police Station for further investigations, and the Rathgama Police Station is conducting further investigations regarding these firearms and the suspects.