The Inspector General of Police (IGP) has ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to investigate alleged failures and negligence by police officers in acting on information received by Senior DIG Ranmal Kodituwakku concerning two containers suspected of carrying illegal narcotics at the Colombo Port.
The CID investigation will seek to determine whether the identified failures or omissions occurred because police officers or officials of other relevant departments had acted in a manner intended to create an advantage for any party, and whether the conduct could give rise to criminal charges against those involved, according to a clarification issued by Police.
The clarification was issued to address what Police described as false information circulating regarding the discovery of a stock of narcotics in a container at the Colombo Port on August 31, 2026, and the subsequent investigations.
Police said Senior DIG Ranmal Kodituwakku had received information on August 14 that two containers containing illegal narcotics had been imported into Sri Lanka and were located at the CICT terminal of the Colombo Port. Kodituwakku had communicated the information to the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) on the same day.
However, concerns subsequently emerged over the manner in which action had been taken on the information, with Police stating that failures had been observed and that the necessary level of action had not been taken.
The IGP subsequently instructed the Police Special Investigation Unit to conduct an internal investigation into the matter.
The Special Investigation Unit’s inquiry remains ongoing, but an interim report submitted based on investigations conducted so far has found that relevant officers had allegedly failed in their duties and acted negligently when dealing with the information initially received by Senior DIG Kodituwakku.
The interim report also recommended that a criminal investigation be conducted in addition to the internal inquiry.
Meanwhile, the Special Investigation Unit’s inquiry has revealed that Sub-Inspector Ekanayake of the Central Crime Investigation Bureau separately received information regarding the same narcotics consignment from a personal informant on August 22.
Police noted that the information was received after the initial tip-off provided to Senior DIG Kodituwakku on August 14. Necessary action had subsequently been taken on the information received by Sub-Inspector Ekanayake.
Accordingly, the Director of the Central Crime Investigation Bureau, accompanied by a team of officers, visited the Colombo Port on August 31 and, together with Sri Lanka Customs officers, took steps to scan the relevant container before it was opened.
Several officers from the Police Narcotics Bureau arrived at the location thereafter.
The internal investigation therefore has found that the Central Crime Investigation Bureau had played the primary role in the discovery of the narcotics consignment, Police said.
Against this backdrop, the IGP has now directed the CID to determine the circumstances behind the alleged failures, omissions and negligence in acting on the original information and establish whether any officials deliberately acted to benefit another party.
The CID investigation will also examine whether the evidence establishes grounds for criminal charges against any of the officers or officials concerned. (Newswire)