The Police Illegal Assets Investigation Division has taken action to freeze properties and vehicles worth over Rs. 125 million, allegedly purchased with money earned through drug trafficking. 

According to the Police, the orders were issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, preventing disposal or transfer of the assets for 14 days while investigations continue.

The Police revealed that a resident of Wattala had acquired multiple properties and a vehicle using proceeds from narcotics trafficking. The assets, valued at more than Rs. 90 million, include:

• A 7‑perch plot and a two‑storey house in Hunupitiya (Rs. 40 million).
• A 17‑perch plot with two houses in Hunupitiya, Chattala (Rs. 30 million).
• A 5‑perch plot and building in Hunupitiya, Wattala (Rs. 5 million).
• A 3‑perch plot and building at Kanthi Mawatha, Hunupitiya (Rs. 7 million).
• A special category car (Rs. 8 million).

The Division ordered these properties to be frozen for 14 days from September 17, 2026, pending further inquiry.

In a separate investigation, based on a complaint by the Police Narcotics Bureau, the Division found that a resident of Thanamalvila had purchased a Toyota‑type jeep worth Rs. 35 million with illegally earned money.

An order was issued to freeze the vehicle for 14 days from September 16, 2026, preventing any sale, transfer, or disposal.

The Police Illegal Assets Investigation Division is conducting further investigations in both cases. (Newswire)

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A 36-year-old woman, who was arrested in connection with illegally acquired assets worth over Rs. 30 million, has been released on bail by the Kesbewa Magistrate’s Court.

The Police Illegal Assets and Intellectual Property Investigation Unit had launched a probe based on information that a woman who engaged in drug peddling had acquired illegal assets in Piliyandala. 

Investigations found that a case had been previously filed against the woman for possession of heroin.

The Police Illegal Assets and Intellectual Property Investigation Unit confiscated a land in Piliyandala that had been purchased for Rs. 30 million using illegally earned money, with the seizure effective for 07 days.

After reporting facts to the Homagama Magistrate’s Court, the order was further extended until 15 October 2025.

The woman was later arrested by the Police Illegal Assets and Intellectual Property Investigation Unit on charges of illegally acquiring money and assets. 

The suspect was released on a cash bail of Rs. 50,000 and two sureties of Rs. 500,000 each after being produced before the Kesbewa Magistrate’s Court on 29 July. 

The Police Illegal Assets and Intellectual Property Investigation Unit is conducting further investigations. (Newswire)

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A couple has been arrested in connection with properties worth Rs. 130 million that had been illegally acquired via money earned through drug peddling. 

The Police Illegal Assets and Intellectual Property Investigation Unit arrested a man in Thanamalvila on 28 May 2025, while they seized property worth Rs. 100 million that had been acquired via money earned through the peddling of cannabis.

Investigations into the suspect had revealed that a case was being deliberated against him on charges of possession, transportation, and peddling of cannabis. 

Further investigations had found an Rs. 100 million property in Embilipitiya bought under his wife’s name. The Police Illegal Assets and Intellectual Property Investigation Unit seized the property, while the court had issued an order for the seizure, effective until 03 September 2025.

The Police Illegal Assets and Intellectual Property Investigation Unit thereafter arrested the suspect’s wife on 30 July 2025.

Interrogations of the woman had found another property worth Rs. 30 million that had been purchased by the man under her name. The Police Illegal Assets and Intellectual Property Investigation Unit had seized the property, while the court has issued an order for the seizure, effective until 17 September 2025. 

The Police Illegal Assets and Intellectual Property Investigation Unit is conducting further investigations. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka Police says a special investigation has been launched into several politicians who own luxury property in Colombo.

It is reported that the probe is being conducted by the Illegal Assets and Intellectual Property Investigation Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

According to the Police, several prominent former ministers are among the politicians being investigated. 

The Lankadeepa newspaper reports that the CID has launched a probe into the assets of 28 politicians, including current Parliamentarians and former ministers. 

The report states that investigations are also underway into a former Commander of the Sri Lanka Army. 

It is reported that the CID has launched an investigation based on several complaints received from various parties regarding illegally acquired assets. 

The Lankadeepa newspaper quotes that investigations into the assets of politicians, including Namal Rajapaksa, Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Mahinda Amaraweera, Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Kanchana Wijesekara, Sagala Rathnayake, Janaka Tissa Kuttiyarachchi, Wajira Abeywardena, Mahipala Herath, Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, Manusha Nanayakkara, Vadivel Suresh, Thushara Sanjeeva Pathirane, Harshana Rajakaruna, Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan (Pillayan), and Shantha Abeysekera, and former Army Commander General Shavendra Silva. (Newswire)

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The Police Illegal Assets and Intellectual Property Investigation Unit has taken steps to freeze over Rs. 04 billion worth of assets illegally acquired by people linked to drug peddling, underworld activities, and other illegal activities. 

The Ministry of Public Security said that the illegally acquired properties of 88 persons involved in such illegal activities have been taken over by the Police Illegal Assets and Intellectual Property Investigation Unit.

The ministry further stated that the total value of the properties is Rs. 4,086,332, 324.22 and belong to people associated with key drug lords and underworld kingpins. (Newswire)

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Deputy Minister of Public Security Sunil Watagala says the Proceeds of Crime Bill, the draft bill for the government’s recovery of assets acquired through illegal means, will be presented to Parliament tomorrow, 08 April 2025.

Addressing a public meeting, the Deputy Minister said the government is fulfilling its responsibility to build the law-abiding society that the people have been hoping for.

He further said that those who illegally acquired public property have become frightened at present.

The Proceeds of Crime Bill aims to combat financial crime by addressing gaps in the legal system that allow criminals to retain control over illicitly obtained assets.

The bill empowers authorities to trace, freeze, and seize property linked to unlawful activities while establishing mechanisms for their management and eventual disposal.  

Key features of the bill include the establishment of designated officers and investigation teams tasked with identifying proceeds of crime, utilising advanced investigative methods such as forensic audits and digital analysis. (Newswire)

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The Illegal Assets and Intellectual Property Investigation Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) confiscated illegal assets valued at Rs.75 million, belonging to narcotics kingpin ‘Angulane Sana’.

Sri Lanka Police reported ‘Angulane Sana’ is presently held in remand custody while his mother was apprehended on Thursday (09).

Authorities seized two apartments in Polgasowita and Moronthuduwa, along with a cache of gold valued at Rs.4 million. Three vehicles were also included in the seized properties. (Newswire)

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A 49-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assets acquired illegally using money from drug-related operations in Sri Lanka, the Police said. 

The suspect, a resident of Middeniya, was arrested on Wednesday by officials of the Police Illegal Assets and Property Investigation Unit. 

The Police said investigations have revealed that the suspect had acquired the illegal assets via money received through drug operations carried out between 2017 and to date.

During the arrest, the suspect was found to have illegally acquired a two-storied house on 18 perch land in Middeniya, another land of 03 roods, and two vehicles. The Police said the illegally acquired assets are valued at over Rs. 50 million. 

The Police Illegal Assets and Property Investigation Unit is investigating the matter. (NewsWire)

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