A 47‑year‑old female lawyer was arrested last night at a Ratmalana supermarket while attempting to steal several items, according to the Mount Lavinia Headquarters Police.

According to media reports, the suspect was caught yesterday (18) with 520 grams of chicken, 250 grams of beef, roasted cashew, a toothbrush, and a lunch sheet packet, all valued at Rs. 5,290, hidden inside her handbag. 

CCTV footage had earlier recorded her secretly placing the goods under the guise of shopping, prompting the supermarket to alert police.

Officers acted immediately, and a female police officer checked the suspect’s handbag as she was leaving the premises, recovering the stolen items. 

Investigations further revealed that the same lawyer had stolen fish from the supermarket the previous day (17) in a similar manner.

Although her lawyer’s ID card carried a Pannipitiya address, police confirmed she is a resident of Ratmalana. 

The Mount Lavinia Headquarters Police are continuing investigations into the incident. (Newswire)

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Officers of the Western Province South Crimes Division have arrested a 27‑year‑old resident of Ratmalana in connection with house‑breaking and theft of property. 

The suspect was taken into custody last morning (17) in the Ratmalana area of the Mount Lavinia Police Division, following a tip-off, and was presented to the Moratumulla Police Station.

Further investigations revealed the suspect was wanted for a series of house‑breaking and theft crimes committed in the Moratumulla and Piliyandala Police divisions. 

Police recovered a stolen mobile phone, 25 copper rods, a gold ring, and a pawn receipt from his possession.

Further investigations are being carried out by the Moratumulla Police. (Newswire)

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The Galle Harbour Police arrested a 40‑year‑old resident of Poddala on Wednesday (10) in connection with a string of thefts targeting monks’ residences and donation boxes at temples across Galle and surrounding areas.

The suspect was taken into custody in Karapitiya with 4,700 Chinese Yuan, 1,112 US Dollars, Rs. 24,120 in cash, and 2,740 milligrams of heroin, allegedly stolen from a temple in the Makuluwu area.

Investigations have revealed that the suspect is linked to several break‑ins at temples within the police divisions of Galle, Yakkalamulla, Imaduwa and Galle Harbour, where cash was stolen from donation boxes and monks’ quarters.

The suspect is scheduled to be produced before the Galle Magistrate’s Court today (11), while Galle Harbour Police are continuing further investigations. (Newswire)

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A bag containing Rs. 35 million has been stolen outside a state bank in Horana, the Police said. 

According to the Police, the money had been brought out of the state bank to be deposited at another bank.

The Police said that as the money was brought outside the state bank, an individual had stolen the bag and fled the area. 

The incident was reported at around 3.00 pm today (03).

The Horana Police have launched investigations into the incident. (Newswire)

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A youth who entered a chocolate shop in Galle was caught on CCTV stealing chocolates and fleeing the premises.

The footage shows the suspect attempting to leave with the stolen items while a female employee tries to stop him. 

Despite her efforts, the youth managed to break free and escape.

The incident, fully recorded on the shop’s CCTV cameras, is now under review. (Newswire)

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A Chinese national who stole foreign currency and gold jewellery worth Rs. 1,344,400 from a Sri Lankan passenger arriving at the Katunayake Airport from Dubai has been arrested by the Katunayake Airport Police after extensive efforts.

According to reports, the stolen money and jewellery belonged to a 52‑year‑old Sri Lankan woman from Boralesgamuwa, employed as a child development consultant in Israel.

She had arrived at 8.15 am yesterday (13 Jan) at the Katunayake Airport on Fly Dubai flight FZ 579 from Abu Dhabi.

It is reported that her handbag, carried on board, was placed in the overhead luggage rack above her seat at the request of a flight attendant.

However, when she disembarked and was preparing to pay for a taxi at the airport, she realized that her handbag was missing USD 3,660, EUR 500, and a quantity of gold jewellery.

She immediately lodged a complaint with the Katunayake Airport Police, who then reviewed the airport’s CCTV system together with her.

During the review, police identified a Chinese national behaving suspiciously near the woman.

Further investigations revealed that the suspect had already left the airport and was hiding at a lodging house in the Kimbulapitiya area, operated by a Chinese woman. Police arrested him there.

At the time of arrest, the 25‑year‑old suspect was found to have hidden all the stolen foreign currency and jewellery inside the pillow cover of the bed where he was sleeping.

The arrested Chinese national is scheduled to be produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court today (14 Jan). (Newswire)

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The Crimes Investigation Division of the Nugegoda Division has arrested three suspects involved in three‑wheeler thefts. 

Following investigations into a three‑wheeler theft reported to the Mirihana Police Station on December 28, 2025, two suspects were arrested on January 10, 2026. 

Subsequent inquiries led to the arrest of another suspect on January 11, 2026, and based on information revealed during questioning, the stolen three‑wheeler was recovered in the Kuruwita area.

Further investigations uncovered 10 additional stolen three‑wheelers in Yatiyantota, Balangoda, Badulla, and Battaramulla.

The suspects, aged 30, 32, and 46, are residents of Kelaniya, Ambalantota, and Parakaduwa.

Police revealed that the suspects had altered the colour, chassis numbers, and engine numbers of the stolen vehicles, preparing fake number plates and forged documents to sell them.

The Crimes Investigation Division of the Nugegoda Division is continuing further investigations. (Newswire)

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Kandy Police say four youths have been arrested along with two high-powered motorcycles they are accused of stealing while the Kandy Court Complex was submerged during recent flooding. 

The motorcycles had been held as case evidence at the time of the theft.

According to the Lankadeepa newspaper, the theft had taken place when the Kandy Court Complex was flooded after the opening of the sluice gates of the Kotmale Reservoir on 27 November 2025. 

The Kandy Police said the suspects had loaded two motorcycles, one with a 1000cc engine and another with a 600cc engine, from the rear area of the court complex.

The suspects were arrested following a probe launched into a complaint that had been filed by the Kandy Court Registrar with regard to the theft. 

They were arrested from the Kandy, Getembe Kiribathkumbura, and Mawanella areas. (Newswire)

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The Police have sought public help to find a suspect wanted for several thefts in the Mahawa area on November 24.

According to the Police, the suspect had broken into four stores in the area and stolen items.

The suspect has been identified via CCTV footage obtained from the affected stores. 

The public with information on the suspect has been requested to contact the Police via the hotlines 037-2260008  or 071-8596411. (Newswire)

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Colombo Port Police have arrested a clerk suspected of stealing cosmetic products worth Rs. 574,425 from a consignment imported from India.

According to Police investigations, a private company had imported two pallets of cosmetics from India on Nov. 7, 2025, the Lankadeepa newspaper reported. 

The shipment was stored at the Bandaranaike warehouse of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority after paying port and customs duties, pending release.

On Nov. 26, a clerk from another company allegedly entered the warehouse and opened four cardboard boxes from the consignment. He is accused of stealing the packaged cosmetic items stored inside.

The suspect had been taken into custody following a preliminary investigation by the Port Police. (Newswire)

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Dialog Axiata PLC says the deliberate damage and theft of underground fibre optic and copper cables during recent disaster recovery efforts is a punishable offence. 

The company urged the public to immediately inform the nearest Police station if exposed cables are tampered with or removed, stressing that such reports are vital to protect essential services and speed up restoration.

Issuing a statement, the Police Department said Dialog Axiata PLC has requested the Police to inform the public that, due to the severe disaster situation across the country, certain individuals have damaged and stolen underground communication cables (both fibre optics and copper), disrupting essential services 

The company further stated that during road repairs carried out in disaster‑affected areas, underground electricity and communication cables have also been damaged.

Since restoring these services quickly is of utmost importance, the company emphasized that damaging communication cables, cutting and removing them, storing them, or selling them illegally are punishable offences.

It also noted that such acts will be reported to the relevant authorities, and the public has been requested to inform the nearest police station if such incidents occur.

Furthermore, the public has been requested that if underground communication cables are exposed during road repairs in disaster‑affected areas, the relevant institutions should be notified immediately. 

This will help ensure that restoration work is carried out efficiently and services are returned to normal as quickly as possible, it added.

According to the Police, SLT- Mobitel had also previously made a similar request from the public, following the disaster situation in Sri Lanka. (Newswire)

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Two suspects linked to the theft of two motorcycles have been arrested during a police operation conducted in the Weliweriya Police Division on Sunday (07). 

Officers attached to the Negombo Division Crime Investigation Unit carried out a raid based on a tip-off and apprehended the suspects in the Seeduwa area.

The arrested individuals, aged 21 and 25, are residents of Thoduwawa and Weliweriya. The stolen motorcycles were recovered and taken into police custody. 

The suspects have been handed over to the Seeduwa Police, who are conducting further investigations into the theft. (Newswire)

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A man who had stolen 32 foreign bird species from the Dehiwala Zoo has been arrested.

The Mount Lavinia Divisional Crimes Unit arrested the suspect.

He has been identified as a 24-year-old resident of Nedimala, Dehiwala. 

It is reported that the man was employed as a cook. (Newswire)

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Two Chinese nationals were arrested yesterday (25) by the Katunayake Airport Police for stealing foreign currency worth Rs. 483,855 from a Buddhist monk on an aircraft in transit, it was reported.

According to reports, the victim, Ven. Digalle Mahinda Thero, a teacher by profession residing at a temple in Peradeniya, had arrived at Katunayake Airport on Etihad Airways flight EY-392 from Abu Dhabi at 10:05 a.m. on 25 November.

While the aircraft was airborne over Katunayake, the monk had gone to the restroom. At that moment, two Chinese nationals approached his seat and accessed his travel bag kept in the overhead rack. When the monk returned, the suspects fled, and he did not immediately check further.

Upon landing at Katunayake, during customs clearance, the monk discovered that his foreign currency was missing. The stolen amount included 250 Euros, 100 Sterling Pounds, 250 US Dollars, and 3,850 Malaysian Ringgit.

The monk lodged a complaint with the Airport Police, who reviewed CCTV footage. The suspects were seen leaving the airport in a three-wheeler. With the assistance of the airport’s three-wheeler associations, police identified the vehicle and arrested the two suspects along with the stolen money.

Investigations revealed that the suspects had planned to use the stolen cash for casino gambling in Colombo today (26). The arrested individuals are aged 31 and 58.

Further investigations are being conducted by the Katunayake Airport Police, and the suspects are scheduled to be produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today (26). (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka Police report a noticeable increase in motorcycle and three-wheeler thefts across Colombo city and the wider Western Province in recent days.

According to Police Spokesman, ASP Wootler, a significant number of complaints have been received regarding vehicles stolen while parked along public roads.

He further said that a total of 10 motorcycles and 3 three-wheelers were reported stolen within the province on November 8 and 9.

ASP Wootler said that in response, special investigation teams have been deployed to probe the incidents. (Newswire)

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The Police have sought public assistance to arrest a woman wanted over the robbery of gold jewellery and other items worth Rs. 364,000 in the Rakwana area.

According to the Police, a resident of Godakawela in Rakwana had filed a complaint with the Police in August, alleging that several items, including jewellery, had been stolen from her house.

Police investigations have found that a woman who had been temporarily residing at the house had stolen the items. 

The suspect is reported to have fled the area. 

The public with information on the wanted woman has been urged to contact the Police via 071-8591394 or 071-8593808. (Newswire)

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A complaint has been filed on wiring being stripped from the auditorium on the 6th floor of the Colombo Deputy Inspector General’s (DIG) Office, it was reported. 

According to the Lankadeepa newspaper, the Police Headquarters says a complaint has been filed with the Divisional Crimes Investigation Office in this regard.

The Police said the suspect had broken into the auditorium and had stolen copper wiring from the electricity wires supplying power to the electronic equipment in the auditorium. 

The officer in charge of the building has filed a complaint with the Colombo-Central Crimes Investigation Office, claiming that the robbery took place between 01 August and 24 September. 

The value of the stolen goods is yet to be estimated, while the Colombo-Central Crimes Investigation Office is conducting investigations into the matter. (Newswire)

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The Colombo North Crimes Investigation Division has arrested two suspects involved in theft in various areas.

According to the Police, one suspect was arrested with 03.2 grams of heroin in Grandpass on 31 July.

Interrogations of the suspect had led the Police to find several mobile phones and laptops at his house. 

Further interrogations had led to the arrest of another suspect in Wellampitiya, who was in possession of stolen goods.

The arrested suspects are aged 41 and 64 years, and are residents of Sedawatte.

The Police had found 18 mobile phones, 02 laptops, 01 tablet, 05 grinders, and 03 grills, among other items. 

The Colombo North Crimes Investigation Division is conducting investigations. (Newswire)

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Three suspects involved in three-wheeler thefts have been arrested following a raid conducted by the Police in Polgasowita, Kahathuduwa on Monday (21). 

Following the raid, the Police had arrested two suspects with 12 grams of heroin. Further interrogations have found that the suspects were involved in three-wheeler thefts in various areas.

The Police said the suspects, who had pretended to be customers hiring three-wheelers, had thrown chilli powder on the drivers’ faces midway through the journey, and had stolen three-wheelers. 

The wife of one suspect has also been arrested for aiding the three-wheeler thefts. The male suspects are aged 24 and 27, while the woman is 29 years old, and all three are residents of Kahathuduwa.

The group has stolen three-wheelers from the Kahathuduwa, Boralesgamuwa, and Moragahahena areas, while the Police have recovered four of the stolen three-wheelers. (Newswire)

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A student of the University of Ruhuna has been arrested in connection with the unauthorized online access to a bank account and the misappropriation of Rs. 05 million.

The university student was arrested by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on Thursday (17).

The suspect is a 25-year-old resident of Sinna Puthukkulam in Vavuniya.

Investigations were launched by the CID’s Cyber Crimes Division following a complaint, leading to the suspect’s arrest.

The arrested individual is scheduled to be presented before the court. (Newswire)

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