The Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) has arrested a man in the Kotahena area with more than 3 kilos of ‘ICE’ narcotics and a stock of heroin, it was reported.

The suspect was taken into custody during a raid carried out based on intelligence received by the PNB.

Officers have recovered 3.944 kilos of ICE worth over Rs. 60 million, 215 grams of heroin, and Rs. 650,000 in cash from the suspect’s possession.

The suspect remains in custody as further investigations continue. (Newswire)

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The suspected gunman in the shooting incident in Kotahena on November 07, in which an individual was killed, has been arrested. 

The Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) had launched an investigation into the fatal shooting incident, where a man who arrived in a car allegedly opened fire, resulting in the homicide.

Based on a tip-off, officers from the CCD apprehended the suspected gunman yesterday (19), while he was hiding in a house in the Kolongoda area.

Upon arrest, authorities discovered 12.3 grams of ‘ICE’ narcotics in his possession.

The suspect, a 39-year-old resident of Kaduwela, is currently being held under a 72-hour detention order.

The Colombo Crimes Division is conducting further investigations. (Newswire)

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The Police have arrested six suspects, including the alleged shooter, two male accomplices, and two female suspects, as of Wednesday (12), following investigations into the shooting incident that occurred in Kotahena on November 07.

CCTV footage of the incident shows a black car being driven away after shooting the victim from behind. 

Through further investigations, the Colombo Crimes Division was able to identify the suspect who drove the vehicle along with the shooter, and this individual was arrested in the Colombo 13 area yesterday.

Alongside this suspect, a female accomplice who had provided shelter at a residence in Maharagama for the suspects to carry out the crime was also arrested at the same location on the same day by the Colombo Crimes Division.

It has been revealed that members of an organized criminal gang operating from overseas were behind the orchestration of the shooting. 

The two suspects arrested most recently are now in custody and are expected to be interrogated by the Colombo Crimes Division. (Newswire)

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The Colombo Divisional Crime Division has arrested five suspects in connection with a recent fatal shooting in Kotahena, in which a man was killed. 

According to the Police Media Division, investigations into the murder were launched by the Colombo Divisional Crimes Unit shortly after the incident, and the suspects were arrested on Sunday (09) and yesterday (10). 

During the arrests, authorities also seized a motor vehicle and a mobile phone in the Chenmani junction area in Jaffna along the A9 highway, believed to be linked to the crime.

Three suspects are aged between 18 and 33, while the two female suspects are 24 and 26 years old. All five are reportedly residents of Grandpass and Wellampitiya.

The Colombo Divisional Crime Division is conducting further investigations. (Newswire)

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The individual killed in the shooting reported in Kotahena yesterday (07) has been identified as a 41-year-old man from the area.

According to CCTV footage of the incident, the victim, who was walking on the road, was shot by gunmen who had arrived in a car.

The suspects are seen fleeing the area in the car following the shooting.

The Police suspect that the victim was a follower of organized criminal Kanjipani Imran and that the shooting may have taken place due to a dispute between two criminal gangs.  

The Kotahena Police have launched a probe to arrest the suspects. (Newswire)

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The Police have sought public support to find the gunman wanted in connection with the shooting incident reported on Sumithrarama Mawatha in Kotahena on 16 May 2025.

The suspect had opened fire at the man and woman outside a house in the area, after which he had fled the scene. The victims sustained injuries in the incident.

Investigations launched into the incident had led to the arrest of a suspect on charges of having aided the gunman to escape.

Based on further interrogations of the suspect, the Police have drawn a portrait of the gunman, through which they have sought public assistance to locate him.

The suspect is assumed to be between 30 to 35 years of age, and 05 feet 09 inches in height. 

The public with information on the gunman has been requested to contact the Police via the hotlines 071 – 8591571, 071- 8596386, or 074 – 0253623. (Newswire)

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The motorcycle used to carry out the shooting reported in the Kotahena area last evening was found abandoned in the Grandpass area yesterday, the Police said. 

According to the Police, investigations have found that a pistol had been used in the shooting.

The Police further said the cause of the shooting is yet to be ascertained, while the identities of the suspects are also unknown. 

Two unidentified men on a motorcycle had opened fire at an individual near a shop close to the Sirisandha Sevana Apartment Complex in Kotahena and fled the area. 

A 41-year-old man, a resident of Colombo 13, who was injured in the shooting, was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital following the shooting. 

The Kotahena Police is conducting further investigations. (Newswire)

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The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) has called for reports from the Bambalapitiya and Kotahena Police Stations following the death of a 16-year-old schoolgirl, who allegedly died by suicide after being sexually abused by a teacher.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the NCPA acknowledged the widespread public concern surrounding the case and noted that many incidents of abuse often go unreported due to fears of damaging a school’s reputation or discouraging victims from speaking out.

To address these issues, the NCPA has informed the Education Ministry Secretary and Provincial Directors of Education of the legal and procedural responsibilities in handling such cases. The guidelines include:

1.⁠ ⁠Immediate reporting of any child abuse case to the NCPA via its 1929 hotline, email, or postal mail, with instructions for all schools to comply.
2.⁠ ⁠Disciplinary action must be initiated against any principal or teacher accused of child abuse. They must be removed from duties involving children until the court delivers a verdict.
3.⁠ ⁠Internal investigations must be conducted in a manner that prevents further trauma to the affected child.
4.⁠ ⁠Victimised children must not be removed from school, influenced, labelled, or isolated during or after disciplinary action against alleged perpetrators.

The 16-year-old girl had died by suicide in Kotahena recently, after which her parents alleged that her death was linked to her being sexually abused by a male teacher at the school and also being humiliated at a private tuition institute in front of fellow students over the incident.

A protest was held in front of the school yesterday, seeking justice for the 16-year-old girl. The protesters called for the immediate suspension and arrest of the accused male school teacher, while they also shared displeasure over the school principal, whom they have accused of having shielded the perpetrator. (Newswire)

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The Ministry of Education has taken steps to immediately transfer the school teacher of a Colombo girls’ school related to the death of a schoolgirl in Kotahena recently.

Issuing a statement, the Education Ministry said its attention has been focused on the tense situation linked to the school located in Bambalapitiya.

The ministry said it had summoned the school principal for an explanation, after which it had transferred the schoolmaster involved in the matter, with immediate effect. 

The Education Ministry further said that the Police investigation report related to the incident has been requested, based on which necessary disciplinary measures will be initiated. Further investigations are underway into the matter, it added.

The 16-year-old girl had died by suicide in Kotahena recently, after which her parents alleged that her death was linked to her being sexually abused by a male teacher at the school and also being humiliated at a private tuition institute in front of fellow students over the incident.

Following a complaint filed at the Bambalapitiya Police, the accused teacher was arrested but later released on bail. 

A protest was held in front of the school today, seeking justice for the 16-year-old girl. The protesters called for the immediate suspension and arrest of the accused male school teacher, while they also shared displeasure over the school principal, whom they have accused of having shielded the perpetrator. (Newswire)

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A protest has been held in front of a prominent girls’ school in Bambalapitiya, seeking justice for a former student who died by suicide in Kotahena recently. 

The protesters are calling for the immediate suspension and arrest of a male teacher at the school, who is accused of having sexually abused the schoolgirl, leading to her death.

The protesters have also shown their displeasure over the school principal, whom they have accused of having shielded and protected the perpetrator.

As the protesters were blocking the Duplication Road in Bambalapitiya, Colombo, in front of the school, the Police had deployed Riot control Police officers to the location.

The 16-year-old girl had died by suicide in Kotahena recently, bringing the incident to the spotlight. 

Speaking to the media soon after her death, the parents claimed that her death was linked to her being sexually abused by a male teacher at her former school in Bambalapitiya.

They further said that, prior to her demise, the girl had also been humiliated at a private tuition institute in front of fellow students.

Following a complaint filed at the Bambalapitiya Police, the accused teacher was arrested but later released on bail. 

Addressing the matter, the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs said the National Child Protection Authority, under its purview, has launched a probe into the matter. (Newswire)

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The Ministry of Women and Child Affairs states that the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), under its purview, has launched a probe into the death of a schoolgirl in Kotahena recently over allegations of sexual abuse. 

A 16-year-old girl had recently died by suicide, with her parents claiming that her death was linked to the child being sexually abused by a male teacher at her former school in Bambalapitiya and for being humiliated at a private tuition institute in front of fellow students.

Addressing the incident, the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs said that investigations conducted by the NCPA had found that the parents had filed a complaint with the Bambalapitiya Police on 08 December 2024, accusing the child’s maths teacher at the former school of having sexually abused her. 

The Bambalapitiya Police had arrested the teacher and produced him in court, after which he was released on a surety, while an overseas travel ban has also been imposed on him.

The ministry further said that based on these facts, the NCPA and the Police Children & Women Bureau have launched a probe into the matter.

As the parents are yet to file a complaint with the NCPA in this regard, the NCPA has summoned them to record statements today. 

The Ministry of Women and Child Affairs said it has also written to the Education Ministry Secretary inquiring about the measures that are to be taken against the accused teacher, as he is attached to a state school which falls under the purview of the Education Ministry. 

The ministry added that several investigations are underway by various entities into the incident. (Newswire)

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New information has come to light regarding the schoolgirl who died by suicide in Kotahena recently, with her parents revealing that their child had been pushed to the decision due to being cornered and humiliated over an incident of sexual abuse at her former school in Bambalapitiya. 

Speaking during a special media briefing, the mother of the child said the girl, who was to sit for the GCE Ordinary Level Examination this year, had been sexually abused by a male school teacher at her former school.

“Upon being informed that my daughter was making false claims, I took her to a doctor, who confirmed that she had been sexually molested. The doctor then informed the Police, after which the suspect was arrested and granted bail. They recorded a statement from us. But that is all we know, as we have not heard any other update. I did not look into it as I was focused on protecting my child,” she said. 

The mother revealed that she had taken measures to move the child to another school in Kotahena, where she was well taken care of by the teachers.

She said, however, a recent incident at a private tuition class, where an official at the institute had openly humiliated her in front of other students, revealing details of the case, claiming she is involved in a Police case, and telling her not to attend classes, had emotionally affected her. 

“My child was put in a situation where she could not go anywhere. Everyone kept questioning her about this incident. Information was spread, portraying her in a bad light. The details came out only after the incident that occurred in the private tuition institute. My daughter cried to me, saying that the institute official had humiliated her by stating false information. My child questioned why she was being penalized when she had not done anything wrong,” she said.

The mother of the deceased schoolgirl said the teacher who had been accused by her daughter had been granted bail over the incident and is continuing to teach at the girl’s former school.

She further revealed that the Police case had not been followed up, adding that the Education Ministry had also not contacted them in this regard. 

Also addressing the media briefing, the Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) General Secretary, Joseph Stalin, called out the Education Ministry for failing to intervene in the matter.

Joseph Stalin said that, in the event of an incident, it is mandatory for the Education Ministry to intervene and investigate, but in this instance, the ministry had failed to do so. 

“The incident had occurred at a state school. There are Tamil-speaking officials. Even though complaints by children are reported at several state schools, these are not investigated. They do not do it. They wait until a child loses his/her life,” he said. 

Joseph Stalin pointed out that if the authorities, including the Education Ministry, had taken timely measures and investigated incidents together with the Police, these student deaths could have been prevented.

Urging that the child and her family need justice, the CTU General Secretary called on the Education Ministry to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident and initiate legal action against those found responsible. 

Joseph Stalin added that a request has also been made from the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) to conduct a probe into the matter. (Newswire)

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The Police have sought public assistance to find a 69-year-old man reported missing from the Kotahena area since 04 November 2024.

The Kotahena Police has commenced a probe based on a complaint by the daughter of the missing man.

The public with any information on the missing man has been urged to contact the Police via the hotlines 071 – 8591571 or 011- 2431861. (Newswire)

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A 24-year-old youth has been murdered following the escalation of an argument over a mobile phone in Colombo.

The youth had been attacked with a sharp weapon and murdered next to a transformer at Gunananda Mawatha in Kotahena last night. 

The victim is reported to have resided along with his parents and sister at Gunananda Mawatha.

The Police said the victim had visited a friend after which the two had arrived near the transformer and had engaged in a dispute with another person over a mobile phone. 

The suspect is said to have stabbed the victim on his back with a knife during the argument.

The Kotahena Police have launched investigations to arrest the suspect who has been identified. (NewsWire)

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Underworld figure and drug peddler Welle Suranga’s brother has escaped from being shot, the Kotahene Police stated. 

According to Lankadeepa, the Police stated the shooting had been reported near the Ibbagewatte Junction in Kotahena today.

The shooting had occurred when Welle Suranga’s brother was on his way to report to the Hulftsdorp Magistrate’s Court over an assault case.

The Police stated the three-wheeler in which he was travelling had been obstructed by a car from which an individual had gotten out with a T-56 rifle and opened fire on them.

The driver of the three-wheeler and Welle Suranga’s brother had fled from the three-wheeler resulting in the shooter firing at the floor and a nearby wall.

The Police said four empty casings were found on the floor in the area, adding that the Kotahena Police is conducting investigations into the shooting. (NewsWire)

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