Police News

Officers of the Nuwara Eliya Police Station were able to arrest on the same day the murderer who stole about ten million rupees from the depot office having murdered an 85-year-old security guard on the dawn of 06.12.2024 at the Nuwara Eliya SLTB depot using a sharp weapon along with the clothes, and knife used for committing homicide.The 34-year-old cashier of the depot and a 41-year-old bus driver were directly involved in this crime, and it has been revealed during the investigation that they got a 55-year-old man from the Pattipola area involved for the homicide as per their plan.Accordingly, all three suspects were arrested on the same day and produced before the Nuwara Eliya Magistrate’s Court on 07.12.2024. The Court remanded them in custody until 19.12.2024.The Nuwara Eliya Police Station is carrying out further investigations regarding this crime.

By making complaints to the police stations in the Nugegoda Police Division, many of the three-wheeler drivers have complained that an individual or a group of people has conducted robberies by intoxicating the drivers of hired three-wheelers. As per the statements of the drivers, they were offered a soft drink or a short eat by the passenger while on the way, and they became unconscious after consuming the foods they were offered. When they regained their consciousness, they found all their money and jewelry were robbed, and no passenger could also be found.The police officers of the Southern Crime Division in the Western Province have made a strong effort to find the criminals involved in this series of events and have arrested four suspects on 07.12.2024 in the Malwatta area of the Police Division-Fort in connection with this incident.During further interrogation, the suspects have also stated that they have conducted robberies and stolen money and jewelry as above by intoxicating the three-wheeler drivers in the police areas of Maharagama, Athurugiriya, Kananke, Weligama, Nawalapitiya, Katugastota, Wattegama, Nanuoya, and Kahawatta.Officers were able to recover some of the stolen gold jewelry that had been melted.The suspects are in 43,45,48 and 49 years of age and are the residents of Galle, Badulla, Werellagama and Maradana respectively.Further investigations are being carried out by the Southern Crime Division in Western Province.

On the morning of 07.12.2024, a group of police officers in Police Station Katunayake conducted a raid after receiving information about an illegal distillery operating in a forest area of Madu River in Katunayake Police Area. During the raid a person in possession of 19 barrels containing approximately 3,591,000 ml of Goda, a substance used for illicit alcohol production was arrested. The suspect is 61 years of age and a resident of Heenatiyana area.Further investigations have been carried out by the Police Station, Katunayake to arrest other suspects who were in link with this racket.

On the morning of 08.12.2024, a team of officers of Central Anti Vice Striking Unit – Walana launched a search operation on the upper part of Hambegamuwa Tank, based on a piece of information uncovered by the officers of the said Unit. They were able to find a cannabis cultivation of nearly one acre with about 18,000 cannabis plants growing up to a height of around 03 feet.A 52-year-old suspect from Thanamalwila area who had been living within the cultivation was arrested and presented to the Hambegamuwa Police Station and the officers destroyed the cultivation by setting fire to it.

A person has been arrested by a team of Police Officers of the Borella Police Station at Gorakagaha Road area of the Borella Police Area along with Heroin in his possession It was reported that the seized amount of heroin is 132 grams and 320 milligrams. The suspect is a 34-year-old resident of the Colombo 13 area and is employed as a postman at a post office in the Kotahena area of Colombo. Further Investigations are being carried out by the Borella Police Station with regard to the suspect.

A team of officers of the Police Special Task Force Boossa High Security Prison Camp conducted a surprise search in the Prison Hospital and Prison Hospital premises of the Special Unit of Boossa Prison on 03.12.2024.During the search, 05 phone chargers, 08 data cables, 02 lighters and 01 phone charger made from 02 pieces of wire with the outer covering removed, which were prohibited items within the prison hospital and the prison hospital premises, were apprehended and handed over to the prison administration for further investigation.

An elderly couple residing in Valhengoda area of Ahangama police area was brutally strangled to death in their house on the night of 03.10.2024. Officers of the Galle Division Criminal Investigation Unit arrested the main suspect who assisted in the murder on 13.11.2024.The officers of Ahangama Police Station and Galle Division Criminal Investigation Unit engaged in a long investigation to arrest Mathew Prasanna and Mohotti Malwattage Batu, who were identified as the suspected killers.Accordingly, the officers of the Ahangama Police Station managed to arrest the 41-year-old suspect Mathew Prasanna, who was living in the Unawatuna area and was hiding, on 04.10.2024 at Galle Fort premises.

A person suspected of stealing a traditional doorway (Makara Thorana) worth twenty million rupees and a metal Buddhist statue, which is yet to be valued, on 28.11.2024 placed at Sri Keththarama Temple in Karagampitigoda, Dewanagala, and two monks suspected of aiding and abetting it, were arrested by the Divisional Crime Investigation Bureau Kegalle on the night of 01.12.2024.The suspect is a 42-year-old hotel owner residing in the Peradeniya area, and the two 29 and 34 year-old monks, were from the temples in the Dompe and Kimbulwila Watta areas.The officers were able to recover the stolen items hidden in the car of the hotel owner, who resides in the Peradeniya area.The three suspects were produced before the Mawanella Magistrate’s Court by the Police Station Mawanella on 02.12.2024 and were remanded in custody until the next hearing on 16.12.2024.Further investigations are underway by the Police Station Mawanella.

A 48-year-old man was killed by an unidentified person on 21. 11. 2024 near a Medical Office of Doramure Road, Walasgala. It has been uncovered during the initial investigations that a T-56 type firearm has been used for this homicide. Further investigations regarding the incident has been carried out and a suspect was arrested on 01. 12. 2024 in area of Bambaranda Central, Dickwella. The suspect was produced before the court on 02. 12. 2024. Having obtained detention order, further investigations will be conducted in this regards.

Two suspects have been arrested today, 26 – 11 – 2024, during a raid conducted in the area of Watareka of Meegoda Police area, by the Special Task Force, for keeping the possession of 57 kg of ice drug and 29 kg of heroin. Value of the drugs stashed away in a lorry parked near a house has been estimated as Rs 220 million. Facts have been revealed during the investigation that the drugs belonged to a large-scale drug smuggler and organized criminal named Unapurawe Shantha. The suspects arrested during the raid are two close relatives of Unapurawe Shantha, and they are at the aged of 41 and 31 years, and residents of Moragahahena and Thalavatugoda areas. Acting Inspector General of Police, Priyantha Weerasuriya (Attorney-at-Law) and Commandant of the Special Task Force, Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police, Varuna Jayasundara (Attorney-at-Law) inspected the drugs detained, and instructed to handover the drug to the Police Narcotics Control Bureau. Accordingly, further investigations are being carried out by the Narcotics Control Bureau.