Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasuriya said Saturday that several plans are underway to arrest organised criminals operating from abroad who have been directing shootings and other criminal activities in Sri Lanka.
Speaking during a New Year visit to the Malwathu and Asgiri Mahanayake Theros in Kandy, the IGP said 32 individuals have already been repatriated, including a key suspect brought back the previous night — a reference to Karandeniye Raju, the brother of notorious underworld figure “Karandeniye Sudda” who was arrested in India and returned to Sri Lanka this week.
“Investigations have revealed that many operations were planned from overseas,” Weerasuriya said, adding that recent criminal activities including shootings have been brought under control with suspects arrested and legal action underway.
The IGP noted strong international cooperation, stating that foreign authorities have commended Sri Lanka’s legal and policing processes, allowing continued efforts to track down and extradite suspects.
The remarks come amid a broader crackdown on organised crime in the southern coastal belt, where several shooting incidents have been linked to drug trafficking networks. An Ahungalla shooting suspect was arrested with drugs on the same day at a Kosgoda lodge.
Sri Lanka’s cross-jurisdiction police raids and the deployment of STF units have intensified since early April, with authorities seizing significant quantities of narcotics and weapons in coordinated operations across multiple provinces.
