Individuals who maintained telephone contact with former ministers and politicians currently in the Welikada Prison are likely to face legal action, following the recovery of mobile phones during a special prison raid on Friday night.

Prison authorities conducting the raid had led to the recovery of mobile phones, chargers, and other telephone paraphernalia from the prison ward housing high-profile inmates.

Justice and Prisons Minister Harshana Nanayakkara told The Island that preliminary investigations indicate collusion between certain prison officials and inmates to facilitate the illegal use of mobile phones inside the prison. He said investigations were currently underway at the Department of Prisons to identify officials involved in providing phones and accessories to inmates.

“All those found guilty, regardless of rank, will be dealt with severely under the law,” the Minister said, adding that legal action would be initiated the moment credible information is uncovered against any Prison officer.

Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala told The Island that the telephones recovered during the Welikada raid had not yet been formally handed over to the police.

The police would launch a comprehensive investigation to identify individuals who had been in contact with the imprisoned politicians. Minister Wijepala said.

“The phone records and data extracted from the devices will help us trace those who communicated with these inmates. Legal action will be taken against anyone found to have engaged in unlawful contact,” the Minister said.

Minister Nanayakkara declined to disclose the number of mobile phones, SIM cards, chargers and accessories recovered during the raid, citing the ongoing nature of investigations. However, he said similar operations would be carried out at other prisons countrywide in the coming days as part of a broader crackdown on contraband inside correctional facilities.

He further noted that raids conducted over an extended period have yielded a large number of mobile phones from various prisons, and investigations had revealed that some prison officers took bribes to provide inmates with mobile phones.

by Norman Palihawadane and Hemantha Randunu ✍️

 Police investigations have revealed that the fatal shooting of a man at his residence at Ginthupitiya was allegedly carried out at the behest of underworld figure Palani Rimoshan.

The incident occurred around 10.30 p.m. on Friday (January 16), when two contract killers arrived at the house in a three-wheeler. The suspects forcibly entered the house and opened fire.

The victim, identified as 44-year-old Jesu Hasan, also known as ‘Konistan,’ was watching television at the time with his two-year-old son and three-year-old niece. Hasan was killed on the spot, while the two children sustained injuries. They were admitted to the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children in Colombo.

Investigations have revealed that Hasan was previously associated with underworld gang leader Pookudukanna and later joined the gang led by Palani Rimoshan. Police said disputes had arisen between the victim and Rimoshan over drug transactions, alleging that Hasan had obtained narcotics and failed to return the proceeds from their sale.

Police have also uncovered that a few days prior to the killing, the victim’s wife had verbally abused Palani Rimoshan’s aunt, further escalating tensions. Investigators believe the murder was carried out as an act of revenge stemming from this series of disputes.

After the shooting, the assailants fled the scene in the same three-wheeler. Senior police officers, including DIG in charge of the Colombo Range, Nishantha Soyza, visited the scene soon after the incident and launched investigations to apprehend the suspects.

Police have recovered CCTV footage showing the arrival of the contract killers at the scene. Investigations are continuing under the direct supervision of Senior DIG for the Western Province, Sajeeva Medawatta, and DIG Nishantha Soyza.

By Hemantha Randunu ✍️

A countrywide crime and drug prevention operations carried out on the instructions of the Inspector General of Police netted more than 6,000 suspects, the Police Media Division has said.

During the special operation, conducted on Saturday (17), police arrested 265 persons wanted on court warrants and 172 persons with arrest warrants for them, the Division said.

In addition, 602 suspects were taken into custody, while 24 individuals were directly identified and arrested in connection with criminal activities.

The operation also focused on traffic law enforcement, leading to the arrest of 479 drunk drivers and 68 others for reckless driving. A further 4,683 persons were arrested for various other motor traffic offences, police said.

According to the Police Media Division, a total of 29,314 persons were checked during the countrywide operation as part of ongoing efforts to curb crime, drug-related offences, and traffic violations.

By Norman Palihawadane and Chaminda Silva ✍️