Police News

Two suspects were arrested on 22.01.2026, when a team of officers from the Madampitiya Police searched a three-wheeler parked near the Sathhiru Sevana Apartment in Madampitiya and found ice in their possession. The two suspects were arrested along with the three-wheeler. The suspects are 24 and 29 years old and are residents of Wellampitiya and Colombo 15. One suspect was found in possession of a bag containing 01.300kg of Ice, an electronic scale and Rs. 18,000/- (eighteen thousand) in cash suspected to have been earned from drug trafficking, while the other suspect was found in possession of 201g of ice. Further investigations are being conducted at the Madampitiya Police regarding the incident.  

The Special Operations Western North Unit operating from the Gonahena camp of the Police Special Task Force (STF) arrested a suspect in possession of 61kg and 838g of crystal methamphetamine (commonly known as “ice”) during a raid conducted in the Pinnagolla Watta area of Nittambuwa on the evening of 20.01.2026. Investigations have revealed that the suspect is an associate of a key suspect currently residing overseas, who is allegedly involved in large-scale drug trafficking and organized criminal activities within the country. The arrested individual is a 45-year-old resident of the Pinnagolla Watta area, Nittambuwa. The suspect was apprehended while transporting the stock of narcotics in a three-wheeler. Following the arrest, the Police Special Task Force handed over both the suspect and the seized narcotics to the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) for further investigations.

Officers of the Child and Women Abuse Prevention Bureau, who launched an investigation into a video that recently circulated on social media depicting a man forcibly stripping a woman, identified the victim and arrested the principal suspect on 18 January 2026 while he was in hiding at a well-known hotel in the Hikkaduwa area. Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of two residents of the Eheliyagoda area, aged 44 and 55, who had allegedly assisted the main suspect and helped conceal evidence from the police. The Child and Women Abuse Prevention Bureau has taken steps to present the relevant facts before the Aluthkade Magistrate’s Court and to obtain a travel ban order against the principal suspect. According to information uncovered during the investigation, the suspect had stripped a woman employed as a domestic aide at his residence in the presence of a group, recorded the act, and circulated the footage on social media via a WhatsApp group. Investigations have further revealed that, following the incident, the suspect had stayed at several prominent hotels in an attempt to evade arrest by the police. Further inquiries into the arrested suspects are currently being carried out by the Child and Women Abuse Prevention and Investigation Bureau.

If an unknown individual or organization contacts you via social media or telephone claiming to offer a job opportunity, informing you that you have won a prize, or making false allegations and requesting that you deposit money into an account to avoid legal action, do not act hastily. Refrain from making any payments and verify the authenticity of such claims thoroughly. If you believe you have been defrauded or have suffered a financial loss by any means, please report the incident immediately by contacting one of the following numbers: Computer Crime Investigation Division (CCID): Deputy Director: 011-2300638Personal Assistant: 011-2381375Officer in charge : 011-2381058 According to complaints received from police stations across the island, it has been observed that these frauds are carried out through various methods, including obtaining bank account details, passwords, One-Time Passwords (OTP), QR codes, as well as through malicious internet links, extensions, and scan codes. In some instances, fraudsters impersonate bank officials, contact victims, obtain sensitive banking information, and intimidate them by falsely claiming that money linked to drug trafficking has been deposited into their accounts. Several such incidents have recently been reported to the Mirihana Special Crime Investigation Unit, as well as to the Padukka Police Station, where suspects posed as police officers and attempted to obtain bank details and money from the public. Members of the public are strongly advised to adhere to the following safety precautions when receiving such calls: Safety Guidelines * Verify information through official and authorized channels. * Never share bank details, National Identity Card (NIC) numbers, login credentials, OTPs, passwords, PIN numbers, or personal photographs with third parties. *Avoid clicking on suspicious or unfamiliar links. * Use only trusted and verified accounts or platforms. *Always confirm the identity of the caller or organization before making any financial transactions. *The contact numbers of the Mirihana Police Special Crime Investigation Unit, which has received numerous complaints regarding such fraudulent activities, are provided below: *Mirihana Special Crime Investigation Unit: 011-2852556 * Officer-in-Charge / Mirihana Special Crime Investigation Unit: 075-3994214

On the morning of 14 January 2026, officers of the Expressway Division’s Godagama Interchange Unit intercepted and inspected a car travelling from Colombo on the Southern Expressway at the Palatuwa exit. During the inspection, approximately 6 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine (ice) and 5 kilograms of heroin were discovered inside the vehicle. When officers attempted to stop the car, the driver and another occupant tried to flee the scene by abandoning the vehicle. However, following a brief pursuit, both suspects were apprehended. The arrested suspects, aged 20 and 21, are residents of the Navimana and Kotuwegoda areas in Matara. The suspects along with the seized narcotics are to be handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau for further investigations.

A team of officers attached to the Kalubowila Camp of the Police Special Task Force (STF) conducted a raid and search of a residence in the Kalubowila area on the afternoon of 13.01.2026, during which a foreign-manufactured 12-bore firearm and one round of ammunition were recovered. A person present at the premises at the time of the raid was taken into custody, and subsequent inquiries revealed that the suspect is a 26-year-old resident of the same house. The operation was carried out based on intelligence information received from the Army.The suspect has been handed over to the Kohuwala Police for further investigations. On the same day, officers of the Western North Special Operations Unit, operating from the Gonahena Camp, arrested a suspect following a search conducted in front of the Meethotamulla Bus Depot in Wellampitiya. During the search, 6,700g of marijuana were discovered in the suspect’s possession. The suspect is an 18-year-old resident of the Meethotamulla area. A three-wheeler, suspected to have been used for the transportation of narcotics, was also taken into police custody.The suspect and the seized items have been handed over to the Wellampitiya Police for further investigation. Meanwhile, officers of Special Operations Unit 1 of the Police Special Task Force carried out a raid in the Samithpura area of Mattakkuliya, Colombo 15, that evening. During the operation, one suspect was arrested in possession of 27g and 200mg of heroin, one iron sword, and one prohibited knife. The arrested individual is a 27-year-old resident of the same premises where the raid was conducted. He has been handed over to the Wellampitiya Police for further investigations.

The main suspect in the crime of seriously injuring a woman with a sword in Borella Police Division on 14.11.2025 was arrested in the evening of 12.01.2026 in Talahena area of Malabe Police Division with a T-56 firearm, a magazine of the same ammunition, 10 live cartridges and a live grenade manufactured in a foreign country by officers of the Homagama Divisional Crime Investigation Bureau and presented to the Homagama Police. The suspect is a 27-year-old resident of Borella. Homagama Police are conducting further investigations.  

Three members of an organized gang who were involved in stealing three-wheelers from various parts of the island including the Mirihana Police Division have been arrested by the Nugegoda Divisional Crime Investigation Division. The police have been able to arrest these suspects after a lengthy investigation into a three-wheeler theft reported from the Mirihana area on December 28, 2025. The suspects arrested by the police have been identified as residents of Kelaniya, Ambalantota and Parakaduwa, aged 30, 32 and 46. Based on information received from two suspects arrested on January 10, another suspect was arrested the next day, and one three-wheeler hidden in the Kuruwita area was initially found in their possession. Based on the facts revealed during further interrogation of the arrested suspects, the investigating officers were able to take into police custody 10 more three-wheelers stolen from the areas of Yatiyanthota, Balangoda, Badulla and Battaramulla.  

According to information received, officers attached to the Colombo North Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau have arrested two suspects within the Mattakkuliya Police Division in possession of a foreign-manufactured revolver, six (06) live rounds of ammunition, approximately 36g of the narcotic substance known as Ice, and a motorcycle. Further investigations have revealed that the suspects were allegedly making preparations to carry out a shooting targeting an individual in the Mahawatta area of the Grandpass Police Division, acting under the instructions of two organized criminal figures currently residing overseas. Earlier, on the night of 09.01.2026, another suspect was apprehended in possession of approximately 5g and 800 milligrams of the drug Ice (approximately 5.8g) along with a three-wheeler suspected to have been used for the transportation of narcotics. Information uncovered during subsequent investigations led to the identification and arrest of the above two suspects. The three suspects, aged 32, 34, and 35, are residents of Mattakkuliya, Horana, Wanawasala, and Kelaniya. Further investigations into the suspects and the recovered firearm are being carried out by the Colombo North Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau under detention orders obtained from the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court on 10.01.2026.  

On the morning of 09.01.2026, a luxury jeep that was moving near the Etthukala railway crossing in Periyamulla was stopped and inspected by officers of the Negombo Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau, who were suspicious and arrested the person in possession of 10g of cannabis, 01g of cocaine and 100 drug capsules. Further investigations into the suspect and a search of the room in the lodge where he was staying resulted in the discovery of 29g of 240mg of Kush and 02g of 230mg of unidentified drugs, while a search of the suspect’s herbal shop yielded 1000 drug capsules. The suspect has been produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court and a detention order has been obtained, and the Negombo Divisional Criminal Investigation Bureau has commenced extensive investigations into the suspect.