A married couple from Borella has been arrested by the Illegal Assets Investigation Division in connection with long‑running drug trafficking operations, with their property and financial assets frozen under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

According to the Police, the suspects, aged 32 and 37, were taken into custody in Athurugiriya yesterday (20). 

Investigations revealed that since 2017, the pair had engaged in drug trafficking through the ‘eZ Cash’ digital payment method, depositing illicit proceeds into accounts held under the female suspect’s mother.

Authorities uncovered that the suspects had purchased a six‑perch plot of land and a house in Athurugiriya’s Oruwala Shanthalokagama, Koratota, in December 2023 for approximately Rs. 3 million using illegally earned funds.

As a result, the land and house have been frozen for seven days starting May 20, pending further legal action.

The probe also extends to six bank accounts maintained under the names of the suspects and the female suspect’s mother, as well as a luxury car purchased under the male suspect’s name.

The Police added that further investigations are underway to trace the full extent of assets linked to the drug trafficking operation. (Newswire)

The post Assets frozen as Borella couple held over drug-linked funds appeared first on Newswire.

Minister K.D. Lal Kantha has issued a legal notice against Asia Broadcasting Corporation (Private) Limited, accusing the local broadcaster of misrepresenting his 2025 assets and liabilities declaration and publishing defamatory content.

The notice, dated April 18, states that Hiru Media Network aired a news segment on April 16 alleging the minister’s assets exceeded Rs. 460 million, citing details from his declaration.
Lal Kantha contends the figures were deliberately exaggerated and misinterpreted, particularly claims regarding property and company shares in his daughter’s name.

According to the legal notice, the declaration submitted to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) included assets under his name, his wife’s, and his daughter’s, but the broadcaster presented them in a misleading manner.

The minister argues that the report, along with its republication across digital platforms under the headline “Minister Lal Kantha’s assets exceed Rs. 460 milion,” was intended to damage his reputation.

In the legal notice sent to a television network, the Minister stated that shares held in his daughter’s name — valued at approximately Rs. 143,000 — had been inaccurately reported as investments worth hundreds of millions of rupees.

The shares in question were purchased for around Rs. 90,000 and currently hold a value close to Rs. 143,000, he said.

However, the media report had claimed that securities worth over Rs. 380 million across multiple companies were owned, which the Minister describes as “completely false and misleading.”

The notice further claims that the broadcast has caused severe harm to the minister’s public image, portraying him as corrupt and misleading voters, supporters, and the wider public.

Minister Lal Kantha is seeking Rs. 10 billion in damages within seven days and has warned that failure to comply will result in legal proceedings, including recovery of costs and interest.

The minister also indicated he would petition authorities to revoke Hiru Media Network’s broadcasting license, alleging misuse of a public frequency for partisan and defamatory purposes. (Newswire)

The post Minister Lal Kantha seeks Rs. 10 billion in damages from local broadcaster appeared first on Newswire.

Sri Lanka’s Official Reserve Assets have decreased by 3.5% to USD 7,019 million in March 2026, according to the latest data of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. 

The CBSL states that the decrease is from USD 7,270 million reported in February 2026.

The CBSL further states that the figure for March includes the swap arrangement with the People’s Bank of China. (Newswire)

The post Sri Lanka’s Official Reserves fall 3.5% in March – CBSL appeared first on Newswire.

The Police Illegal Assets Investigation Division has seized properties worth Rs. 150 million belonging to a suspected drug trafficker in Moratuwa, believed to have been purchased with money earned through illegal activities.

According to the Police, investigations were launched following a complaint that the suspect, a 46‑year‑old resident of Soysapura, Moratuwa, had acquired assets through drug trafficking. He was arrested yesterday (25) in the Horethuduwa area.

The Police state that the suspect owned a house valued at Rs. 50 million on 11 perches of land in Keselwatta, Panadura, and a three‑storied house valued at Rs. 100 million on 16 perches of land in Moratuwa. 

Both properties have been temporarily confiscated for seven days under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act No. 5 of 2006.

The suspect is scheduled to be produced before the Moratuwa Magistrate’s Court today (26), while the Police Illegal Assets Investigation Division is carrying out further investigations. (Newswire)

The post Drug Trafficker’s Rs.150M assets seized in Moratuwa appeared first on Newswire.

Sri Lanka’s Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption has recorded a statement from a complainant in connection with allegations regarding the assets of six members of the current government, local media reported.

According to the report, the complainant was questioned for over three hours on Tuesday (December 30) regarding a complaint seeking an investigation into how the assets of five Cabinet Ministers and one Deputy Minister were acquired.

The complaint was filed by Jamuni Kamanta Thusara, Chairman of the organisation “Citizen Power Against Bribery, Corruption and Waste,” requesting an inquiry into the declared assets of Cabinet Ministers Bimal Rathnayake, Wasantha Samarasinghe, Kumara Jayakody, Sunil Handunnetti and Nalinda Jayatissa, as well as Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala.

Speaking after providing his statement to the Bribery Commission, the complainant said he expects an independent investigation to be conducted and expressed confidence that statements would also be recorded from the ministers concerned.

He added that public confidence should not be undermined by inconsistencies between past statements made by the ministers regarding their assets and the findings of any investigation.

The complainant further stated that the complaint raises questions under the Anti-Corruption Act regarding the manner in which assets were acquired, the accuracy of disclosures made, and whether there is a risk of further unlawful accumulation of wealth.

The Bribery Commission has not issued an official statement on the matter as yet. (Newswire)

The post Bribery Commission records statement over complaint on assets of six ministers appeared first on Newswire.

The Sri Lanka Police has seized properties valued at over Rs. 50 million, reportedly belonging to underworld figure ‘Kehelbaddara Padme’.

It is reported that the properties were taken into custody by the Illegal Assets Investigation Division.

The seized property is a 29 perches of land with a building under construction. (Newswire)

The post Rs. 50 Mn worth of assets belonging to Kehelbaddara Padme seized appeared first on Newswire.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Chief Security Officer, Neville Wanniarachchi, who was arrested in connection with the accumulation of illicit assets, has been remanded. 

The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court today dismissed the bail application of  Neville Wanniarachchi and remanded him until 31st October 2025. 

Neville Wanniarachchi was arrested on 02nd October by the Bribery Commission in connection with investigations into the alleged accumulation of illicit assets and properties worth Rs. 28 million. (Newswire)

The post Illicit assets : Mahinda Rajapaksa’s ex-Chief Security Officer further remanded appeared first on Newswire.

The Sri Lankan Police has taken action to seize the properties of a 53-year-old woman, residing at Ferguson Road in Colombo 14, which are found to have been acquired through funds earned by engaging in the narcotics trade.

According to the Police, on the directive of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the Illegal Assets Investigation Division commenced a probe into the woman. 

An inspection of previous criminal activities had found that she had been arrested for possession and sale of drugs in various parts of Sri Lanka and had also been produced in court. 

The Negombo and Colombo Magistrates’ Courts issued orders yesterday (01) to seize the following properties belonging to the woman, which had been acquired through illegal means. 

• An 8.66 perch land in Ja-ELa, valued at approximately Rs. 14 million.
• A sum of Rs. 5.9 million in 06 bank accounts.

Additionally, a 07-day suspension order has been issued, effective from 01st October, to freeze the following assets acquired through illegal means, while steps are to be taken to extend the order.

• 03 shops valued at approximately Rs. 22.5 million in Colombo 14.
• 01 shop valued at approximately Rs. 7.5 million in Colombo 14.
• A land with a two-storey building in Colombo 14, valued at approximately Rs. 20 million.

The Illegal Assets Investigation Division is conducting further investigations. (Newswire)

The post Police seize assets linked to narcotics trade in Colombo appeared first on Newswire.

The declarations of assets and liabilities of 175 Parliamentarians have been handed over to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC). 

Parliament officials handed over the declarations yesterday based on a request made by the Bribery Commission. 

It is reported that only 175 Members of Parliament from those elected to the 10th Parliament of Sri Lanka have submitted declarations of assets and liabilities to the Speaker. (Newswire)

The post 10th Parliament : Only 175 MPs declare assets & liabilities appeared first on Newswire.

National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader Wimal Weerawansa has recorded a statement with the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) over statements made regarding the wealth of former MP Basil Rajapaksa in the USA.

Speaking to the media, former MP Weerawansa said he had recorded a statement over comments made many years ago regarding the wealth of Basil Rajapaksa and his family members.

Wimal Weerawansa said that written information regarding his comments had been handed over to the Police. 

“Basil Rajapaksa was not employed in the US. Whatever assets he owns in the US, are from the wealth acquired through his job in Sri Lana. The assets are under his and his family members’ names,” Weerawansa said, adding that information in his possession was handed over to the authorities. 

He further stated that authorities should investigate the assets held by other relatives of Rajapaksa, as he does not have information about them.

Claiming that he also has information on other corrupt politicians, Weerawansa said everything cannot be revealed at once, and for now, he has only revealed about Basil Rajapaksa. 

Wimal Weerawansa said the government should probe Basil Rajapaksa’s assets in the USA if they want to find corrupt politicians and if a systematic fair probe is conducted, then he would reveal details of other corrupt individuals as well. (Newswire)

The post Basil’s USA assets : Wimal records statement with FCID appeared first on Newswire.

Sri Lanka’s Official Reserve Assets has increased to US$ 6.46 billion in October 2024 from the US$ 5.99 billion recorded in September this year.

According to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), this was a significant increase of 7.9%.

It also includes the swap facility from the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), equivalent to around US$ 1.4 billion, which is subject to conditionalities on usability. (Newswire)

The post Significant increase in Sri Lanka’s Foreign Reserve appeared first on Newswire.

Measures are being taken to obtain assets and liabilities statements from Trade Union leaders who are yet to submit their declarations, Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara said. 

Minister Manusha Nanayakkara said trade union leaders of government and semi-government institutions are required to submit their assets and liabilities statements according to the Declaration of Assets and Liabilities Act.

He pointed out that, however, no union leader has provided such a statement so far to the Secretary of the Ministry of Labour annually as required by the law.

Minister Nanayakkara stated, therefore, the Secretary of the Ministry of Labour is currently making efforts to obtain assets and liabilities statements from such union leaders.

The Minister also stated that although the Ministry of Labour has not acted on the matter in the past, the Ministry Secretary will request such assets and liabilities statements in the future from union leaders from government and semi-government institutions.

“Government employees are bound by the Institutional Code. It mentions the guidelines when appointing officers to trade unions. Some employees who have worked in trade unions for twenty to thirty years have not done their entitled work, even for a single day. The people should decide whether it is correct to appoint people to trade unions in government and semi-government institutions and pay salaries for 20 years for not doing their designated work. Government businesses are maintained by people’s taxes. Is it fair to make collective agreements and allow such union leaders to get two or three salaries and receive millions of overtime payments even when such institutions are making losses? According to the Assets and Liabilities Act, all union leaders are required to provide assets and liabilities statements. But until now, no trade union leader has given statements of their assets and liabilities. Therefore, the Secretary of the Ministry of Labour is making renewed efforts to get their assets and liabilities statements at the earliest” the minister stated. (NewsWire)

The post Labour Ministry to request TU leaders to declare their assets & liabilities appeared first on Newswire.