Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Namal Rajapaksa, against whom an arrest warrant was issued yesterday, has arrived in Sri Lanka. 

It is reported that MP Rajapaksa arrived from the Maldives and was seen leaving the Katunayake Airport.

The Hambantota Magistrate’s Court yesterday issued the arrest warrant after Namal Rajapaksa had failed to appear for a scheduled hearing.

It was reported at the time that MP Namal Rajapaksa was in the Maldives attending an event. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka Customs has seized Rs. 60 million worth of electronic equipment, including mobile phones and computers, at the Katunayake Airport.

According to reports, a 22-year-old businessman had illegally brought in the electronic equipment to Sri Lanka today.

The electronic equipment, which includes mobile phones, tablets and MacBooks, were brought from Dubai. 

The passenger who had illegally brought the electronic equipment is a resident of Avissawella, while the goods have been seized as state assets. (Newswire)

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An individual in possession of a pistol, a magazine and 12 bullets was apprehended near the Katunayake Airport last night.

The 41-year-old man was arrested during a raid conducted by Police officials deployed at the airport departure terminal, based on a tip-off.

Preliminary investigations have found that the suspect, a resident of Ratmalana, had been previously arrested by the Mount Lavinia Police in connection with a shooting in December 2018. 

He has been handed over to the Peliyagoda Police Crimes Investigation Unit for further investigations. (Newswire) 

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The suspect wanted over the murder of a female Civil Aviation Authority officer in Kahathuduwa this week was apprehended via the Facial Recognition System installed at the Katunayake Airport, the Police revealed. 

The suspect had attacked the woman with a sharp object in the throat area while she was returning home after work on a road near the Kahathuduwa Interchange entry point on the Southern Expressway on Tuesday evening (Jan 09). 

He had later attempted to flee to Malaysia that night during which he had been identified via the Facial Recognition System installed at the Katunayake Airport.

The Police said information regarding the suspect had been dispatched and updated to the Facial Recognition System at the Katunayake Airport immediately following the incident. 

Upon being interrogated by airport officials, the suspect had claimed that he was travelling abroad with his spouse and had handed over his passport, after which his identity had been confirmed leading to his arrest. (NewsWire)

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A Sri Lankan who had attempted to travel to Canada using a forged tourist permit, acquired for Rs. 4 million, was arrested at the Katunayake Airport last evening, it was reported.

The man had attempted to travel to Canada via Doha, Qatar, but had been arrested by airport officials after suspicions had arisen over his Canadian visa documents. 

Immigration and Emigration officials at the airport said the man was handed over to the Border Surveillance Unit after which his Canadian visa was found to be forged.

Upon inspecting the suspect’s luggage, the officials were able to retrieve his original Sri Lankan passport.

Investigations have revealed that the 25-year-old suspect from Point Pedro in Jaffna had obtained the passport from an Individual near the 18th milepost on the Katunayake – Colombo main road before arriving at the airport.

The suspect had informed Immigration and Emigration officials that he had obtained the forged Canadian visa through money sent by his uncle in Switzerland.

The suspect has been handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department at the Katunayake Airport for further investigations. (NewsWire)

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Three persons, including two monks, have been arrested for helping an individual who was in the custody of the Katunayake airport Police over several murders in Sri Lanka, to escape.

The Western Province South Crimes Division stated that the two monks and another person who had operated as the driver of the vehicle transporting the suspect, were arrested in the Hettipola area. 

The suspects are the Chief incumbent of the Hettipola Rittadeniya Shri Jaya Lankarama Viharaya, Poththewala Indrasara aged 40, monk Diwulwewa Deepananda aged 38, and 27-year-old Kamburugamuwa Weerasinghe Arachchilage Dhilan from the Kalubowitiyana area in Ambewala. 

The Police had seized the vehicle used to escort the wanted suspect, while they had also seized two bags belonging to the suspect who had attempted to flee to Dubai.

The suspect was wanted for shooting to death a hotel owner in the Hanwella area in December 2022. The Police had obtained a travel ban from the court after identifying the suspect and had informed the Department of Immigration and Emigration in this regard. 

However, the suspect had attempted to flee to Dubai under a fake identity and was arrested and placed in the custody of the Katunayake airport Police, during which two Buddhist monks had enabled his release and had aided his escape. (NewsWire)

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