News
Five gangs operating under single command: President
By Saman Indrajith
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday said that security authorities were conducting probes based on reports that five different gangs involved in recent crimes had been acted under one person’s command.
Speaking in Parliament at the end of the debate on expenditure heads of the Ministries of Defence and Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs in his capacity as the Minister of Defence, the President said an analysis of five recent crimes revealed that except for the Minuwangoda shooting incident, the others had been carried out by five gangs. There was suspicion they acted simultaneously under a single command. Additionally, there were concerns that similar activations could occur in Batticaloa and the Northern Province, as such groups were previously established by past regimes to operate on command, the President said.
The President said that the coordinated attacks appears to be part of a well-organized plot at a time when some hoped the government would collapse due to economic crisis, etc.
The NPP supported the abolition of the Prevention of Terrorism (PTA), but it would only do so until a robust legal framework is established to tackle extremism and organized crime, president Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday in parliament.
If organized criminal and racist/extremist groups operate in a country, it is not an ‘ordinary’ situation and a new law is needed to deal with them, he said.
“We were opposed to the PTA from 1979. we have not changed our ways. However, if the normal laws are not adequate to deal with organized criminal and racist/extremist groups, we need new laws. We are taking steps to establish a new set of rules,” he said.
Racism and extremism are the two main reasons why Sri Lankan national security was threatened in the past, he said.
“We will not let these trends grow,” he said.
Organized crime groups are not just a collective of criminals. They have been allowed to grow for decades, with the proactive support of politicians.
“Some politicians are now shedding tears about crime. I would like to remind them who nurtured these people,” he said.
Because of political patronage, some individuals attached to institutions that had been established to fight crime also joined these criminal groups. Several police officers have been arrested over recent underworld related assassinations, he said. Some police officers have sold their weapons to the organized groups, the president said.
“This is why 73 T-56 weapons fell into the hands of criminal groups from an army camp. 35 have been recovered. This didn’t happen during our tenure. There was an investigation into this incident before we came into power, but powerful politicians stopped this investigation. The second son of a president received seven licences firearms from the state,” he said.
Before the NPP came into power the country was headed towards a criminal state, he said. A large number of professionals have become affiliated with these powerful criminals, he said.
“In some cases, lawyers surround criminals when they receive bail and do not leave his side until he returns home. What can we do about this? There are two options. One is we can join hands with these criminal groups like those before us. The second option is to take these criminals on and crush them and this is the option we will take,” he said.
Dissanayake also said that they are cleaning up the police. A number of transfers are taking place and despite what the opposition says, none of these transfers are politically motivated, he said.
“We are getting intelligence information about some policemen who do not do their duty to tackle crime. If they are acting in cahoots with criminals, shouldn’t we take steps to put an end to it? We need to crush the network of corrupt policemen,” he said.
Three Sri Lankan male passengers who arrived from Muscat by flight no. OV 437 on Saturday (24) have been arrested by officers attached to the NCU at BIA as they were found to be carrying 12,306 grams of Cannabis class narcotics (suspected as Hashish & Kush) valued at 123 million rupees.
Building on its success in seizing major narcotic stocks in 2025, the Navy continued to support the “A Nation United” National Mission in 2026. In continuation of these efforts, during an
operation conducted on the high seas south of Sri Lanka, the Navy apprehended eleven (11) suspects aboard two local multi-day fishing trawlers suspected of drug smuggling.
Based on shared information, by the Sri Lanka Navy and Police, this special operation was conducted off the southern coast, deploying the Navy‟s Offshore Patrol Vessels. The operation
resulted in the interception of a multi-day fishing trawler suspected of smuggling narcotics, and the apprehension of five (05) suspects on board.
During further operations in the same area, naval units seized another multi-day fishing trawler (01), along with communication equipment and six (06) additional suspects, also believed to be involved in drug smuggling.
This morning (25 Jan 26), the two intercepted fishing trawlers, along with fourteen (14) sacks laden with suspected narcotics and the suspects, were brought to the Dikovita Fisheries Harbour.
An expert examination by the Police Narcotic Bureau confirmed that the fourteen (14) sacks contained more than 184 kilograms of heroin and over 112 kilograms of ‘Ice’ (crystal methamphetamine).
The Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General (Retd) Aruna Jayasekara, the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, and the Inspector General of Police, Priyantha Weerasuriya, inspected the narcotics at the Dikovita harbour.
The Deputy Minister of Defence said that the current administration has initiated several projects for national development. As a flagship initiative, under the directives and guidance of the President, and under the supervision of the
Ministry of Defence, well-coordinated anti-narcotic raids have been launched.
This effort, part of “A Nation United” National Mission, involves the tri-forces, police, and all intelligence agencies working together under a coordinated plan to ensure that drug smugglers have no opportunity to bring narcotics into the country, he opined. He further stated that despite the national disaster situation, the state machinery, including the tri-forces, the police, and the public at large, remains united in rebuilding the nation, no room will be left for drug trafficking, which poses a severe threat to national security and public safety. Those
who engage in or support drug trafficking, under the cover of fishing activities, will find no escape, he added.
The Deputy Minister also reaffirmed that the tri-forces, police, and all law enforcement agencies are fully committed to their duty of suppressing this menace.
The Deputy Minister of Defence reported that, throughout 2025, a series of highly successful operations were conducted leading to numerous arrests. This was achieved through close coordination and mutual cooperation among the tri-services, the police, the Special Task Force, Police Narcotics Bureau, local law enforcement and international agencies. He noted that this
same spirit of cooperation and commitment has continued into 2026, resulting in the seizure of a large stockpile of drugs.
On behalf of the Honourable President, he extended gratitude to all who contributed to these efforts, specifically acknowledging the Commander of the Navy, the Inspector General of Police, the Police Narcotic Bureau, and the crews of the Navy’s Offshore
Patrol Vessels.
Moreover, the Deputy Minister declared that drug smuggling has become a national crisis, fueled by youth involvement and social crime. With borders secured under the “Nation United” National Mission, he warned traffickers to cease operations and urged users to abandon the destructive habit.
The Deputy Minister urged the public to report suspected drug smugglers to law enforcement via the hotlines 1818 or 1997 and also commended the role of media institutions and journalists in raising public awareness about the dangers of narcotics through responsible reporting.
Meanwhile, the two (02) multi-day fishing trawlers, along with a haul of narcotics, eleven (11) suspects, and communication equipment, were handed over to the Police Narcotic Bureau for
further investigation and legal proceedings.
The Indonesian Naval Ship ‘KRI SULTAN ISKANDAR MUDA – 367’, which arrived in Sri Lanka for logistics replenishment and a goodwill mission, departed the island on 23 Jan 26.
The Sri Lanka Navy bade a customary farewell to the departing ship at the Port of Colombo, following naval traditions.
During the stay in Sri Lanka, crew members of the ship visited some popular tourist destinations within the city of Colomb
Three arrested with narcotics valued at Rs123 million at BIA
Navy intercepts 02 narcotics-laden trawlers with 11 suspects in southern seas
Indonesian Naval Ship ‘KRI SULTAN ISKANDAR MUDA – 367’ departs island
U19 World Cup: Japan defeat Tanzania by nine wickets
U19 World Cup: Ambrish’s four-fer powers India to third straight win
Josh Hoey breaks world 800m short track record with 1:42.50 in Boston
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
Business1 day agoComBank advances ForwardTogether agenda with event on sustainable business transformation
-
Opinion6 days agoAmerican rulers’ hatred for Venezuela and its leaders
-
Opinion4 days agoRemembering Cedric, who helped neutralise LTTE terrorism
-
Business4 days agoCORALL Conservation Trust Fund – a historic first for SL
-
Opinion3 days agoA puppet show?
-
Opinion6 days agoHistory of St. Sebastian’s National Shrine Kandana
-
Opinion1 day agoConference “Microfinance and Credit Regulatory Authority Bill: Neither Here, Nor There”
-
Features5 days agoThe middle-class money trap: Why looking rich keeps Sri Lankans poor