Two young motorcyclists were killed late on July 29 when their motorcycle collided with a container truck turning across the road in the Bolawalana area along the Negombo–Minuwangoda Road.

The Police said the victims, aged 18 and 20, were residents of Dagonna, Negombo. The accident occurred at approximately 11:10 pm as the motorcycle was travelling at high speed towards Negombo.

Following the crash, officers from the Katana Police Station arrested the driver of the container truck. However, a group of individuals gathered at the scene became unruly and deliberately set fire to the truck, causing extensive damage.

Police investigations into the arson led to the arrest of three suspects last evening (30). The suspects, aged 20, 25, and 26, are residents of Dagonna and Kimbulapitiya in Negombo. Officers also recovered another motorcycle abandoned near the scene.

Authorities confirmed that further investigations are underway to identify and apprehend all individuals involved in the destruction of the vehicle, with police relying on CCTV footage and other available evidence. (Newswire)

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A deadly clash at Negombo Prison that has claimed more than 25 lives has once again drawn attention to Sri Lanka’s chronic prison overcrowding problem.

According to the Department of Prisons, facilities built to accommodate around 11,000 inmates are currently holding nearly 40,000 prisoners.

The issue has also been highlighted in a recent submission made to the United Nations by a rights group, which alleges that Sri Lanka’s prison population exceeds the official capacity by 286.6%, with some prisons operating at more than 300% occupancy.

The submission further claims that some inmates are confined to as little as 1.2 square metres of personal space, well below international standards.

It also alleges that severe overcrowding has forced some prisoners to sleep in shifts or even beside toilets due to the lack of available space.

The conditions have come under renewed scrutiny following the deadly violence at Negombo Prison, raising fresh concerns over the state of Sri Lanka’s prison system. (Newswire)

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A stock of medicines valued at approximately Rs. 48.3 million, illegally brought into the country by sea without customs clearance or quality inspection, has been seized by the Negombo Divisional Crime Investigation Unit.

Four suspects were arrested during a raid near Pitipana Lellama in the Dungalpitiya Police Division while transporting the consignment in a lorry. 

According to the Police, the medicines and vehicle were taken into custody.

Investigations revealed that the consignment had been smuggled aboard two vessels, with the skippers of both boats also arrested and handed over to the Dungalpitiya Police Station.

Police said the suspects, aged between 31 and 49, are residents of Negombo and Maskeliya. Further investigations are underway. (Newswire)

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Police in Negombo arrested a 67‑year‑old man on Wednesday (10) after reports emerged that he had subjected two dogs in his care to inhumane treatment at his home in the Sea Street area.

According to the Police, at the time of arrest, officers found the animals’ mouths tied with string. 

The Police said that the dogs were safely taken into police custody and are now reported to be in good health.

The suspect is scheduled to be produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court today (11). 

The Negombo Police are continuing further investigations into the case. (Newswire)

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Police Narcotics Bureau officers opened fire on a group of suspects attempting to flee in a motor vehicle in Negombo this afternoon (30).

According to police, the suspects were intercepted near a supermarket complex during an operation.

The officers had opened fire after the suspects had failed to heed an order to stop the vehicle for inspection.

Following the incident, two of the fleeing suspects were reportedly taken into custody. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Police have arrested 18 foreign nationals in Negombo on charges of online fraud. 

According to the Police Media Unit, the suspects were arrested during a raid conducted on a lodge in Negombo on Friday (27).

The group consists of 16 Chinese nationals and two Cambodians. The Police have seized computer equipment during the raid. 

The suspects have been remanded until April 06 after being produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka Police carried out separate raids in Negombo and Kalutara North on Friday (20), leading to the arrest of three suspects for possessing and selling petrol without permits.

Two suspects, aged 51 and 53, were arrested in the Akkara 50 and Dalupotha areas of the Negombo Police Division for the possession of 18 litres of petrol without a permit. 

The arrests were made after officers from the Negombo Police Station conducted a raid based on information received. 

Both suspects are residents of Akkara 50 and Dalupotha. The Negombo Police are conducting further investigations.

Meanwhile, a 32‑year‑old resident of Bosiripura was arrested in the Kalutara North Police Division for possessing and selling 35.5 litres of petrol without a permit. 

The arrest followed a raid carried out by officers from the Kalutara North Police Station acting on a tip‑off. 

Further investigations are underway by the Kalutara North Police. (Newswire)

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Negombo Police say a three‑wheeler driver has been arrested for allegedly assaulting a National People’s Power (NPP) municipal councillor of the Negombo Municipal Council. 

According to the Lankadeepa newspaper, the Police said the councillor, who also works as a technician at Sri Lanka Telecom, was travelling in a company cab when the three‑wheeler driver obstructed the road. 

The Police further said that a heated argument followed, during which the councillor was assaulted.

The victim is a 53‑year‑old resident of Maradana Road, Negombo, and is currently receiving treatment at the Negombo Hospital. (Newswire)

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A 56-year-old Sri Lankan was saved from drowning while bathing in the seas off the Ethukala beach in Negombo.

According to the Police, the man had suddenly been swept away by a strong wave while bathing last evening (07).

He was rescued by three lifeguards attached to the Ethukala Police who were on duty at the time. 

The rescued individual has been identified as a 56-year-old man from Gampola. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Police recovered a suspected firearm from two individuals on a motorcycle, one of whom was injured in a police shooting in Negombo today.

The Police opened fire at the suspects after they had failed to heed orders to stop at a Police checkpoint in Negombo.

Based on a tip-off on drug trafficking, the Police had ordered the two men on a motorcycle to stop at the checkpoint near Lellama. However, the motorcyclist had ignored the order and sped ahead, leading to a Police chase.

Eventually, the motorcyclist had crashed into a lorry and had escaped, while the pillion rider had been arrested by the Police officer giving chase.

It is reported that while attempting to arrest the motorcyclist, the Police had been forced to open fire, injuring him in the foot. 

Video footage of the incident shows the Police officers at the scene finding a firearm inside the bag retrieved from the motorcycle of the suspects. (Newswire)

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One person has sustained gunshot injuries after Police opened fire for failing to heed orders in the Dungalpitiya area in Negombo today. 

According to the Police, two men on a motorcycle had been ordered by the Police to stop near the Lellama Bridge for inspection, after having received a tip-off on drug trafficking.

As the motorcyclist had failed to stop and sped ahead, the Police had chased behind, after which the motorcycle had crashed into a lorry.

The Police had managed to apprehend one suspect, but the other had escaped, leading to a Police chase. 

The Police said the second suspect had been shot in the foot by the Police officers while attempting to evade arrest.

The injured suspect has been admitted to the Negombo Hospital. (Newswire)

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The body of a police officer, identified as 56-year-old Police officer, has been found burnt inside a three-wheeler in Negombo, Ada Derana reported.

The charred body was discovered at the Kochchikade Kammal Thotupola seashore in Negombo this morning (June 14).

The deceased has been identified as Sergeant Driver Jayantha Pushpakumara, attached to the Negombo Divisional Crime Investigation Unit.

Local residents alerted authorities, prompting an investigation by Kochchikade Police.

A post-mortem will follow a Magistrate’s inquest. (Newswire)

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A 53-year-old man has been arrested in Negombo for allegedly attempting to shoot a former schoolmate following an argument in a WhatsApp group, police said.

According to investigators, the suspect had arrived with a firearm to confront his friend, with whom he had a dispute in a school batch group chat. He reportedly fired a shot into the air during the altercation.

A video of the incident, which shows the two men scuffling, has surfaced online and is being used as evidence in the investigation.

Police are continuing inquiries. (Newswire)

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The Police have sought public assistance to find a woman reported missing from Negombo since April 2025.

The Negombo Police have launched a probe following a complaint filed by the woman’s husband claiming that she had been missing since 23 April 2025.

The public with information on the missing woman has been urged to contact the Police via the hotlines 071-8591630 or 031-2222222. (Newswire)

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A failed shooting attempt has been reported in the Negombo area this afternoon, targeting a store owner.

The incident is reported to have taken place at the Kamachchodi market in Negombo this afternoon.

Two gunmen on a motorcycle had attempted to open fire at the owner of the store, while the latter was inside the store.

However, as the weapon had malfunctioned, the shooting had failed, prompting the suspects to flee the area. (Newswire)

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Two individuals were arrested for the possession of 35.56 kilos of cannabis in the Eththukala area in Negombo yesterday.

Officials from the Negombo Crimes Investigation Division arrested a 21-year-old youth for the possession of the stock of cannabis.

They further arrested a 50-year-old woman for aiding the suspect by providing a house to hide the cannabis. 

The youth is a resident of Kattankudy, while the woman is a resident of Kochchikade.

The Negombo Police is conducting further investigations. (Newswire)

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The Police have sought the assistance of the public to find a man and his daughter reported missing from Negombo.

The Negombo Police has launched a probe after a complaint was filed by the child’s mother. 

As per the complaint, the woman’s 41-year-old husband and 02-year-old daughter have been missing since September 14, 2024.

The public with information on the whereabouts of the missing father and daughter has been urged to inform the Police via the hotlines 071 8591630 and 031 2222222. (Newswire)

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A 40-year-old man has died after being attacked with a sharp object by his son-in-law in the Mankuliya area in Negombo last evening.

According to the Police, the victim was involved in a dispute with his daughter, during which her husband had intervened, escalating the issue.

Police investigations reveal that amidst the argument, the son-in-law is reported to have attacked his father-in-law with a sharp object, resulting in his death. 

The Negombo Police has launched investigations to apprehend the suspect. (Newswire)

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Sixty (60 ) suspects have been arrested for allegedly committing online financial fraud from several areas in Negombo.

The suspects, including 30 Indian nationals, were arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) today. 

They are reported to have operated from the Thalangama, Madiwela and Kochchikade areas in Negombo. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka Police have busted over 50 brothels that had been operating under the guise of Ayurvedic Spas in Negombo, leading to the discovery of two women, including a minor, testing positive for HIV.

The Ayurvedic spas, which had been operated illegally, were raided over the last week based on a tip-off, after which measures were taken to shut down 53 spas.

According to the Police, the raids were launched after an individual addicted to alcohol had been subjected to a medical examination during which he was found to have tested positive for HIV.

Further investigations revealed that the man, a resident of Kochchikade in Negombo, was a frequent visitor to a spa in the Negombo area.

This information led to the Police inspecting spas in the area, during which 120 young women had been taken into custody and subjected to medical examinations. 

The Police said among the women, two, including a 15-year-old girl had tested positive for HIV. 

Investigations have revealed that the minor had left home over a dispute with her relatives after which she had been sold to a spa by an individual.

The Police said one person who had engaged in sexual activities with the minor had been arrested and remanded.

Eight other spa workers who had also contracted other social diseases had been identified during the raids. 

Following the inspections, the Police have taken measures to shut down over 50 illegally operated spas in the Kochchikade and Seeduwa areas in Negombo. (NewsWire)

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