The Western Province North Crime Division has arrested three additional suspects in connection with a vehicle robbery carried out following a fraudulent online sale, Sri Lanka Police announced.

The arrests were made yesterday (16), as part of investigations into a case where a van advertised for sale on Facebook was later robbed in a premeditated operation after the transaction.

Police said investigations have revealed that around ten individuals, including the owner of a vehicle sales business, were allegedly involved in the crime. Prior to these arrests, another suspect was taken into custody in Yakkala on July 13, 2026.

The newly arrested suspects are aged 32, 36, and 38, and are residents of Thihariya, Giriulla, and Udugampola. They are scheduled to be produced before the Gampaha Magistrate’s Court today (17).

The Western Province North Crime Division is continuing investigations to identify and apprehend all other individuals connected to the offence. (Newswire)

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A 54‑year‑old woman was killed and 15 others injured when a van travelling from Polonnaruwa to Dehiattakandiya collided with a wild elephant in the Bandanagala area early this morning, the Police said.

The deceased was identified as a resident of Nagamuwa, Dehiattakandiya.

According to Siripura Police, the victims were part of a group of 16 relatives from Nagasthenna who had been returning home after a pilgrimage to Polonnaruwa. The accident occurred when the van struck an elephant attempting to cross the main road.

Among the injured were a five‑year‑old child and a 10‑month‑old infant. Ten of the injured were admitted to Dehiattakandiya Hospital, while those in critical condition were transferred to Polonnaruwa General Hospital.

Police confirmed that the woman succumbed to her injuries while receiving treatment. Investigations are continuing into the incident. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka Police say the driver of a van who was shot in Kayts by the Police yesterday for failing to heed orders to stop for inspection was a 19-year-old youth.

Previously, it was reported that a 17-year-old driver had sustained serious injuries and had succumbed to injuries at the Jaffna Hospital. 

However, the Police clarified that Police officials in the Kayts division signalled a suspicious van to stop near Allapiddy Junction, but the vehicle failed to comply. Officers then opened fire, injuring a 19‑year‑old passenger who later died at Jaffna Hospital.

Two suspects, aged 25 from Chinna Nagar, Nallur, and 38 from Sithankerny, were arrested and produced before the Kayts Magistrate’s Court, which remanded them until February 24. 

The deceased suspect’s body was handed over to relatives after a magistrate’s inquiry yesterday confirmed he had been using ICE and heroin.

Medical examinations also revealed that one of the other suspects had used narcotics.

The van, with its rear seats removed, was searched with forensic support, uncovering 17.5 grams of cannabis, a sword, a knife, rope, and animal hide.

Police suspect the vehicle was linked to cattle thefts and other crimes in Kayts. 

Investigations are ongoing under the supervision of an Assistant Superintendent of Police, with assistance from the Jaffna Crime Investigation Division. (Newswire)

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Minister of Transport Bimal Rathnayake has announced that CCTV systems will be made mandatory for school transport vans, as part of a broader effort to improve safety and discipline in public transport.

Addressing Parliament today, he stated that harassment against women and children in transport settings has increased, and that the government is taking steps to minimize such incidents.

He further revealed that a set of guidelines for school and office transport services will be introduced starting in January.

“The only real solution is to empower passengers. If anyone attempts to harass a woman or a child, we need people who will not look away, but people who will take action. Whether male or female, we need that courage,” he said.

He acknowledged that due to certain toxic conditions in the bus industry, many people are afraid to speak up for others.

“That’s why we must professionalize the bus industry. We must also elevate the three-wheeler industry to a professional level. I believe our effort is to move the orange zone away from red and toward green,” he added. (Newswire)

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The Police have opened fire on a van in the Udammita area in Nittambuwa.

According to the Police, the van was shot at after it had failed to heed orders to stop for inspection.

The Police further said that three suspects were arrested in the incident.

The Nittambuwa Police is conducting further investigations. (Newswire)

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A tragic road accident in Dummalasooriya, Kuliyapitiya, claimed three lives, including two children and the driver of a school van, police said on Wednesday.

The incident occurred when a school van collided with a lorry, leaving 13 others injured. The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Police said preliminary investigations are underway to determine the cause of the collision. (Newswire)

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A wild elephant has reportedly been injured in a collision with a van in the Kithulkote area along the Thanamalvila–Wellawaya road early this morning. 

According to reports, the accident occurred around 05.00 am today, when the van, reportedly travelling at high speed, had struck the elephant attempting to cross the road.

CCTV footage from the area shows the elephant collapsing onto the ground due to the impact and later walking away. 

Six passengers, who were in the vehicle at the time of the incident, had not sustained serious injuries, though the vehicle was severely damaged. The passengers are residents of Monaragala and Yakkala. 

A search operation has now been launched to locate the injured elephant. (Newswire)

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A van has fallen into a precipice in the area of Ramboda on the Nuwara Eliya – Kandy Road, injuring 17 people.

The Police said the injured passengers of the van include children, adding that they have been admitted to the Gampola and Kotmale Hospitals. 

According to the Police, the accident had occurred on the same road where a fatal bus accident was reported recently, in which several people were killed. (Newswire/ Image – Accident1st)

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Ten (10) garment factory workers have been injured after the van they were travelling in collided head-on with a bus in the Kandaketiya Police area today.

According to the Police, a bus travelling from Kandaketiya to Badulla had crashed head-on into the van plying in the opposite direction.

The accident had taken place in the Bopitiya area along the Kandaketiya- Badulla main road early this morning.

Ten garment factory workers in the van have been admitted to the Mahiyanganaya and Kandaketiya hospitals with injuries. 

The Kandaketiya Police is conducting investigations into the accident. (Newswire)

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Two people were reported dead and 14 others injured in an accident reported at the 48th milepost along the Haputale- Beragala Road today.

The Police said a van with 16 passengers had met with an accident, during which two had succumbed to injuries after being admitted to hospital.

Initial investigations reveal that the van had suffered a mechanical failure due to which the driver had crashed onto a large boulder by the road to stop the vehicle. 

The Police said the deceased are a 55-year-old woman and a 65-year-old man, both residents of Horana. (Newswire)

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A 28-year-old youth has been arrested for the robbery of a van valued at Rs.8.3 million in the Maskeliya Police Division. 

A probe was launched by the Crimes Investigation Unit of the Hatton Police on the vehicle reported stolen on 09 November.

The Police officials had apprehended a suspect from the Opewatte area in the Kahawatte Police Division on Saturday morning in connection to the robbery.

Interrogation of the suspect had led to the vehicle being found in the Vavuniya area, after which it was taken into Police custody.

The Crimes Investigation Unit of the Hatton Police is conducting further investigations. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka Police is to initiate strict action against dilapidated buses and vans used to transport school children.

Police Traffic Unit Chief ASP Manoj Ranagala made the announcement while addressing the media on Wednesday (Oct 26).

He said a survey had been conducted with the assistance of several Deputy Inspector Generals (DIG) during which the said vehicles were inspected.  

ASP Ranagala said it was found that most buses operating as school transport service are buses that have been removed from passenger transport service due to their unusable condition. 

Stating that vans used for school services are also the same, ASP Ranagala said that there is very poor maintenance due to which strict measures should be taken in this regard.

Following a survey conducted with the assistance of motor inspectors, prohibitory orders were issued in this regard, he said. 

Stressing that this was a serious issue, ASP Ranagala said innocent lives are lost due to the lack of safety measures. (NewsWire)

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The Australian Federal Police has gifted a van with relevant facilities to be utilised by the Sri Lanka Police for the duties of the Human Trafficking, Smuggling, and Maritime Crimes Investigations Division.

According to a Sri Lanka Police statement, the Australian Federal Police constantly extends support to the Sri Lanka Police when taking measures against transnational crimes, including people smuggling and human trafficking. 

The van with relevant facilities has been gifted to the Sri Lanka Police as a gesture of that support.

A senior officer of the Australian Federal Police, Robert Wilson, handed over the said vehicle to the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Police Transport Range, Buddhika Siriwardhana at the Australian High Commission in Colombo.

In his speech on the said occasion, Robert Wilson highly commended the assistance given by the Sri Lanka Police as an international law enforcement partner towards the Australian Government in combating transnational crimes. 

Further, the Australian Federal Police expressed their gratitude towards the persevering efforts taken by the Sri Lanka Police for the prevention of illegal activities related to people smuggling that is taking place in Sri Lanka. (NewsWire)

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