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Tamil Nadu Q Branch sets up massive search for Kanjipani Imran

Published

3 years ago

2023/01/8

Wanted drug trafficker Kanchipani Imran is on the run from Sri Lankan Authorities and the ‘Q’ Branch of the Tamil Nadu police is actively searching for whether he is hiding in Tamil Nadu. The Q Branch is one of the Criminal Investigation Department wings of the Tamil Nadu Police.

Look-out notices have been issued to all airports to prevent the criminal from fleeing abroad.The Sri Lankan government has also sought India’s help to capture Imran. The Central Intelligence Agency has also warned the Tamil Nadu government in this regard.An intensive search is being conducted in 14 coastal districts of Tamil Nadu and fishing village areas.

Q Branch Officers told Indian media that its personnel are questioning several local people and fishermen to determine if Imran had sneaked into Rameswaram.

A Sri Lankan court has already ordered the guarantors for Najeem Mohammed Imran alias Kanjipani Imran to appear in court.

Kanjipani Imran, who is a leading drug trafficker in the country, had fled to India and is now preparing to enter Pakistan from there.

Imran’s mother, brother, and another individual are listed as guarantors.

Indian Intelligence put Tamil Nadu on High Alert following information that one of Sri Lanka’s notorious drug lords ‘Kanjipani’ Imran had entered India through the coastal Rameswaram, five days later.According to the court order, Kanjipani Imran must report to the Maligawatte Police on the last Sunday of every month, and as he failed to appear the Police had reported the matter to the court.

Sri Lanka Police said that the court issued an order on Imran’s mother, brother and another person who were listed as guarantors to appear in court at the next trial date in March 2023.

Indian media have reported that Najeem Mohammed Imran alias Kanjipani Imran, who is a leading drug trafficker in the country, had fled to India and is now preparing to enter Pakistan from there.However, the main question is, how did he fled to India after his release on bail.

Indian Intelligence put Tamil Nadu on High Alert following information that one of Sri Lanka’s notorious drug lords ‘Kanjipani’ Imran had entered India through the coastal Rameswaram.An Intelligence alert said Imran had managed to enter the coastal town on Christmas eve along with another individual.

Kanjipani Imran faces serious charges in Sri Lanka including murder, and he was released on a Rs. 5 Million personal bail by the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court on the 20th of December, and court also barred him from travelling overseas.The Sri Lankan government on Tuesday (3) raised concerns over the country’s intelligence network after notorious underworld gangster and drug lord Kanjipani Imran alias Mohammed Imran fled to India after his release on bail.

In December 2021, the Indian National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested nine Sri Lankan nationals from the special camp for refugees at Tiruchirapalli for their alleged involvement in smuggling of drugs and arms, and for their close ties to a durgs and arms peddler in Pakistan.The agency said that two of the arrested men were in regular touch with a Pakistan-based drugs and arms runner, Haji Salim, who often travelled between Dubai, Pakistan and Iran.

The Indian National Intelligence Agency says that hese men and Salim were working to revive the LTTE in Sri Lanka and India.Among these nine men was Gamage Suranga Pradeep also known as Welle Suranga.He was arrested by the Police Special Task Force in Sri Lanka on the 9th of April 2019.

Interrogation of the suspect at the time revealed that he was closely liked to the now-slain underworld don Makandure Madush and Kanjipani Imran.Indian intelligence services also said that C. Gunasekaran also known as Kimbula Ele Guna, Nalin Chathuranga also known as Ladiya had maintained ties with Pakistan-based drugs and arms runner Haji Salim as well as with Kanjipani Imran.

Najeem Mohammed Imran alias Kanjipani Imran fled to Dubai from Sri Lanka using a fake passport on the 28th of March 2015. He was spending a luxurious life in Dubai, and was arrested along with Makandure Madush and other gangsters following a party at a Dubai Hotel on the 5th of February 2019.

Thereafter, Kanjipani Imran was deported to Sri Lanka and was arrested in Katunayake when he attempted to flee to the Maldives.Later, the one-time underworld don Makandure Madush was gunned down while in police custody in Sri Lanka.On the 23rd of August 2019, the Colombo High Court sentenced Kanjipani Imran to six year of rigorous imprisonment for the possession and trafficking of drugs.

Attorney Lakshman Perera who appeared for Kanjipani Imran told court that his client pleads guilty for the for the possession and trafficking charged.Accordingly the court sentenced Kanjipani Imran to six years rigorous imprisonment – three years for each charge of possession and trafficking.

Last year, he was released on bail in the case filed for threatening a police officer with death.Concerns are mounting over what happened to the remaining three year prison term, and did underworld gangster managed flee after his release on bail.

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Flood warning issued to the Aththanagalu Oya basin extended until 0600AM on Monday [25]

Published

1 hour ago

2026/05/23

Priyan

The warning mentioned in the flood warning message No. 01 issued for the Aththanagalu Oya basin on 22.05.2026 at about 5.30 am will be extended for the next 48 hours.

It is requested that residents in the area and vehicle drivers running through those areas pay high attention in this regard by the . Disaster Management Authorities are requested to take adequate precautions in this regard

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Torrential rains cause havoc countrywide

Published

3 hours ago

2026/05/23

Thilina Walpola

Heavy and persistent rains lashed several parts of Sri Lanka yesterday, triggering flooding, transport disruptions, flight diversions and multiple disaster warnings as water levels rose in key river basins and low-lying urban areas.

The worst affected situation was reported along the Colombo–Avissawella main road, where floodwaters submerged sections of the highway, bringing vehicular movement to a standstill at several points, including the Puwakpitiya-Thummodara junction, the Seethawaka Botanical Garden area, and parts of Yatiyantota. Traffic was also severely disrupted along the Delgoda–Belumahara road at Udupila, and the Gampaha–Miriswatta road, due to inundation, while movement on the Divulapitiya–Mirigama route was restricted for light vehicles, following flooding at Ullalapitiya.

In the Kelani River Valley, rising water levels, following heavy rainfall in the catchment areas, prompted warnings of possible minor flooding within the next 48 hours. The Irrigation Department cautioned that areas, including Hanwella, Seethawaka, Dompe, Padukka, Homagama, Biyagama, Kaduwela, Kolonnawa, Kelaniya, Wattala and Colombo, could be affected. The flood alert, issued at 10:00 am yesterday, remains valid for 48 hours, until Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) issued landslide warnings covering six districts—Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura. Red alerts were issued for Dehiowita, in Kegalle and Ratnapura, while amber and yellow warnings were declared for several vulnerable divisions, including Seethawaka, Padukka, Attanagalla, Ingiriya, Bulathsinhala, Ruwanwella, Kuruwita, Ayagama, Pelmadulla, Yatiyantota, Ambagamuwa, Eheliyagoda, Nivithigala and Kalawana.

In the civil aviation sector, poor visibility and heavy rain around Katunayake forced the diversion of around six inbound flights, bound for Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, as a precautionary measure.

The Department of Meteorology reported that the highest rainfall recorded was 336.5 mm in Pambegama, Kegalle, between Thursday morning and Friday morning, underscoring the intensity of the ongoing weather system.

Authorities have urged the public, in affected districts, to remain vigilant, avoid flood-prone roads, and adhere to disaster warnings as adverse weather conditions are expected to persist.

by Norman Palihawadane and Chaminda Silva

News

Dubai deports 21 Sri Lankan criminals

Published

3 hours ago

2026/05/23

Thilina Walpola

Twenty-one alleged underworld operatives, deported from Dubai, were taken into custody by the CID, upon their arrival at the Mattala International Airport yesterday, Police said.

The suspects, including alleged organised crime figures, known as “Mahawatta Chamara” and “Kudu Duminda,” were arrested within the airport premises, shortly after disembarking from several inbound flights that had been diverted to Mattala, due to adverse weather conditions affecting operations at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), in Katunayake.

Police said the group had been residing overseas for an extended period while allegedly continuing to direct organised criminal activities and narcotics trafficking operations in Sri Lanka.

According to law enforcement authorities, the deportees were among a group of wanted criminal suspects linked to underworld networks and ongoing investigations into organised crime activities.

Senior Police officials stated that “Mahawatta Chamara” is expected to be handed over to the Central Crime Investigation Bureau for further investigations, while inquiries into the activities and alleged criminal links of the remaining suspects are also continuing.

Police sources said the deportees arrived in the country during the early hours of yesterday after flights originating from Dubai were rerouted to the Mattala Airport.

Authorities have not yet disclosed the specific charges pending against the suspects, but investigators believe several of them maintained operational ties to criminal syndicates involved in drug trafficking and other organised crimes, despite being based overseas.

The CID has commenced extensive investigations to determine the extent of the suspects’ alleged involvement in underworld activities and their connections to ongoing criminal operations in the country.

by Norman Palihawadane