Main suspect arrested in connection with video of a woman being abused circulated on social media

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.