Three suspects have been arrested in Borella and Panadura for illegally keeping and attempting to sell wildlife parts and jewelry made from them, according to wildlife officers and the Police Special Task Force Intelligence Unit.

The raid led to the seizure of a significant haul, including eight cups made of elephant tusks, an elephant pearl necklace, bracelet and casket, a two‑foot fake tusk, two bracelets suspected to be made of elephant pearls, five leopard teeth, two leopard skins, three sea shells, two spotted conch shells, a deer antler, and two pieces of black coral.

Wildlife officials said the suspects and case productions will be produced before the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court and the Panadura Magistrate’s Court.

The operation was carried out jointly by officers of the Kurunegala Wildlife Assistant Director’s Office, Bulathkohupitiya Wildlife Office, Attidiya Wildlife Office, and the Rajagiriya Police Intelligence Unit, based on intelligence provided by the Sri Lanka Air Force. (Newswire)

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The director of a private institution has been arrested by the Colombo Crimes Division for allegedly defrauding Rs. 35.8 million from individuals by promising to provide visas for overseas travel.

Police said the suspect, a 41‑year‑old resident of Panadura, was taken into custody on Wednesday (06) following investigations into 21 separate complaints. 

According to the Police, the suspect had collected a total of Rs. 35,800,557.86 from 21 people.

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

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The Wijewardane Children’s Home in Panadura has been completely renovated with the intervention of the President’s Fund and returned for use yesterday (10).

Following a request from the Home’s Board of Management, the renovation work was carried out with the technical assistance and labour support of the Sri Lanka Navy. 

The project included painting of dormitories and other areas, refurbishment of the kitchen and repair of electrical appliances such as non-functional ceiling fans. (Newswire)

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A 29-year-old man was reported dead after being assaulted on Walana Road in Panadura South last night.

According to the Police, the victim had been admitted to the Panadura Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. 

Preliminary investigations reveal that an individual had assaulted the victim with a sharp object due to an argument over a money dispute escalating.

The 54-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with the murder. 

The Panadura South Police are conducting further investigations. (Newswire)

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Two suspects have been arrested over various crimes, including the recent shootings in the Hirana and Pinwatte areas in Panadura.

According to the Police, a 38-year-old man from Arukgoda was arrested on Sunday with 02.2 grams of ICE, 07 mobile phones and a motorcycle. 

The suspect was arrested in Arukgoda, following a raid conducted by officials from the Kalutara Crimes Division.

Following interrogations, the suspect was found to be the gunman in the shooting incident in Hirana in July, in which an individual was injured, while he had also aided the shooting targeting a house in the Pinwatte area in May this year

Based on information from the suspect, the officials arrested another 38-year-old man from Horana in the Batuwita area yesterday. 

The officers seized 2.1 grams of ICE, a T-56 firearm, and 30 live ammunition for the weapon. 

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

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Five youths have been arrested for robbing an individual after deceiving him through a dating app for the LGBTQ+ community, it is reported. 

According to the Panadura South Police, the victim had been threatened and robbed of his cash, laptop and mobile phone at the Panadura beach. 

The arrested suspects are aged 17, 18, and 19, and are residents of Panadura, Bekkegama, Hirana, Moronthuduwa, and Walana. 

According to the complaint filed with the Police, the group had taken the victim to the Panadura Beach, stripped him nude, and had recorded a video of him, later threatening to share it online. 

The suspects had then stolen the victim’s laptop, mobile phone, and Rs. 9000 in cash. The suspects are due to be produced before the Panadura Magistrate’s Court. (Newswire)

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Police are seeking public assistance to locate a suspect linked to a shooting reported on May 29, 2025, in Panadura.

The suspect, identified as Rajeev Suraj Chamara of Horana road, Alubomulla, Panadura, is wanted in connection with the incident. Police have released an image of the suspect and are requesting information from the public to help trace his whereabouts.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police via the following phone numbers:

OIC – Panadura Criminal Investigation Division – 075-8900009
Police Inspector Madushan – 0717409070
Divisional Crime Detective Bureau – Panadura – 038-3341467

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A shooting has been reported along the Bandaragama Road in Panadura South this morning.

The Police said unidentified gunmen had targeted a store in the area and fled the scene. 

They further said that, per information received as of now, one person is reported to have sustained minor injuries in the shooting.

The Police are conducting investigations into the incident. (Newswire)

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A private bus had overturned near the Panadura Flyover early this morning.

According to reports, the bus had toppled over due to a technical failure.

It is reported that the bus had been travelling from Lunugamvehera to Colombo at the time of the incident. 

Four passengers injured in the incident have been admitted to the Panadura Base Hospital. 

The Panadura South Police have arrested the driver of the bus over the incident. (Newswire/ Image – Accident1st)

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A former local council member was arrested in the Pinwatte area in Panadura on Tuesday (Dec 31) for the possession of an illegally imported luxury vehicle.

The Police said the politician was found to have used fake documents to register the Mitsubishi Jeep under a fake number plate at the Motor Traffic Department.

Further investigations had led the Police to find two Land Rovers parked in a house in the Ratmalana area yesterday. 

Police investigations reveal that the suspect had used fake documents to obtain number plates for the three luxury vehicles. 

The three vehicles have been handed over to the Pinwatte Police, while the Walana Anti-Corruption Unit is conducting investigations. (Newswire)

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An 08-year-old girl who had sustained burn injuries after falling into a cauldron used to heat food has died 10 days after undergoing treatment in hospital.

According to the Police, the food used for a Dansal in the Bokkegama area in Panadura on June 23 had been reheated the next day using the metal pot which was placed at the rear end of the house. 

The child, who is a resident of the house, is reported to have fallen into the hot cauldron sustaining severe burn injuries. 

Having been admitted to the Panadura Hospital for treatment following the incident, the child was later transferred to the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children in Colombo the following day but succumbed to injuries on Tuesday (July 02).

The body of the child has been handed over to relatives following the completion of the postmortem examination.

The Police have requested parents to be vigilant of their children’s activities to prevent such tragic incidents. (Newswire) 

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A suspect in the murder of a 09-year-old girl in May 2022 has been sentenced to 27 years of rigorous imprisonment. 

The verdict was issued by Panadura High Court Judge Saman Kumara when the case was taken up for hearing today. 

The justice also ordered the suspect to pay Rs. 3 million in compensation to the mother of the deceased child.

The judge further said that in the event, the suspect fails to pay the compensation, he will be issued a suspended sentence of another 6 ½ years. 

The suspect has been sentenced under charges of manslaughter and abduction of the child from the mother. 

The child was murdered after allegedly being drowned in a swamp in the Atulugama area in Panadura. 

The suspect had lured the child into a forest area while her mother had visited a nearby grocery store. 

As the child had screamed out during the attempt to molest her, the suspect is reported to have allegedly drowned her in a swamp out of fear.

Investigations have revealed that the suspect was a friend of the child’s father who had visited her residence regularly. (NewsWire)

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A 46-year-old woman has been arrested for defrauding nearly Rs. 4.2 million from the public promising overseas employment.

The Police stated that 06 complaints have been received thus far against the woman, who is a resident of Kesellwatte in Panadura North.

The woman was arrested last evening by a team of officials from the Panadura North Police. (NewsWire)

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The suspect wanted over the murder of a 24-year-old youth in front of an apparel factory in Panadura in May, has been apprehended by the Police.

The Police stated that the suspect was arrested while at the Kataragama Bus Depot last night (13). 

The suspect has been identified as a 24-year-old resident of the Kirana area in Panadura. 

A school student was apprehended earlier in connection to the murder. Investigations had revealed that the schoolboy had travelled with the chief suspect in a three-wheeler to provide assistance to carry out the attack.

The chief suspect had attacked the victim with a sword in front of an apparel factory on the night of May 31, 2023. 

The victim had run into the factory premises after which the suspect had followed behind and continued to attack him, resulting in his death. The incident had been captured on the CCTV installed at the factory premises.

The victim who had sustained serious blows to the head had died on the spot. The deceased was identified as a 24-year-old resident of an apartment complex in Modarawila. 

The Police stated that the attack had been carried out due to the escalation of a long-standing dispute between two parties. (NewsWire)

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A schoolboy who was placed at a detention centre on charges of having committed murder and being in possession of a grenade has escaped from authorities amidst sitting for an exam during the GCE Ordinary Level Examination. 

According to Lankadeepa, the student is a resident of Bethmegama in Dhodangahawatte in Panadura. 

The schoolboy was placed at the Department of Probation and Child Care Services for Boys in Makola on the order of the Panadura Magistrate’s Court.

The Police stated that the boy had been brought to the examination centre by prison officials to sit for the last examination of the GCE Ordinary Level examination yesterday. 

The boy is reported to have requested to use the washroom after which he had been escorted to a nearby washroom where he had pushed the prison official accompanying him and escaped. 

The Sapugaskanda Police has launched an investigation to apprehend the boy. (NewsWire)

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A school student has been apprehended in connection to the murder of a 23-year-old youth in front of an apparel factory in Panadura recently.

The Police stated investigations have revealed that the schoolboy had travelled with the chief suspect in a three-wheeler to provide assistance to carry out the attack.

The chief suspect had attacked the victim with a sword in front of the apparel factory on the night of May 31, 2023.

The victim had run into the factory premises after which the suspect had followed behind and continued to attack him, resulting in his death. 

The incident had been captured on the CCTV installed at the factory premises. The victim who had sustained serious blows to the head had died on the spot.

The deceased was identified as a 23-year-old resident of an apartment complex in Modarawila. 

The Police suspect that the attack had been carried out due to the escalation of a long-standing dispute between two parties.

The chief suspect has been identified, while the Panadura Police have launched investigations to apprehend him. (NewsWire)

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Sri Lanka Police have issued a clarification with regard to the special security provided to Panadura and Akurana areas recently.

Police spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa stated that false information had been circulated on social media pertaining to security risks in Panadura targeting Islamic prayers.

Hence, the Police had taken immediate measures to provide special security to prevent any such incidents, he said.

SSP Thalduwa said, however, the Police emergency hotline had received a call warning of a possible explosion in the Akurana area targeting mosques.

While ascertaining the authenticity of the message, the Police took measures to provide special security to the said area in Akurana to prevent any such incidents, he added.

The Police spokesman further stated that together with the Alawathugoda Police Station and representatives of mosques in the area, special security was provided. 

SSP Thalduwa said, however, the specified date for the potential attack has passed and it has been proven that it was a false tip-off.

Investigations are underway to ascertain the person behind the false information, he said.

Police Spokesman SSP Thalduwa stated that special directives have been issued by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to provide necessary security in view of the Ramadan festival.  (NewsWire)

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Three suspects have been arrested for allegedly gang-raping a woman in the Panadura South area. 

According to the Daily News, the men travelling in a lorry had persuaded the girl to travel with them under the guise of providing a lift to her home.

However, as per the complaint filed by the victim, the men had taken her to an abandoned location in Wadduwa and had gang-raped her holding a dagger to her throat.

In her complaint, the victim stated that the incident had occurred while she was returning home after working at a store in Panadura Town on the night of 3rd March.

The Police stated that the suspects were arrested by the Panadura South Police after inspecting over 100 CCTV footage.

The suspects have been identified as residents of the Panadura, Arukgoda and Egodauyana areas, aged 45, 24 and 23 years. (NewsWire)

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The individual shot dead inside a luxury vehicle in the Pinwatte area in Panadura today has been identified as a businessman, the Police stated.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that two suspects on a motorcycle had shot the businessman while he was travelling towards Beach Road from Galle Road this morning.

The suspects had fled the area following the shooting, while the victim is said to have died inside the vehicle while in the driver’s seat.

The deceased has been identified as a 56-year-old resident of Kirallawala, Kadawatha.

The victim had been shot dead while visiting his house under construction in the Pinwatte area in Panadura. 

Police teams have been deployed to apprehend the suspects involved in the murder. (NewsWire)

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An individual has been shot dead inside a luxury vehicle in the Pinwatte area in Panadura today.

The Police Media Unit stated that the incident had taken place after 08.00 am and the victim was found dead inside the vehicle. 

The Police suspect that two individuals on a motorcycle may have carried out the shooting.

The Police Media Unit further stated that the identity of the victim is yet to be ascertained.

The Panadura Police has launched investigations into the incident. (NewsWire)

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