Lunuwila police accused of false implication in heroin trafficking case

Colombo, June 21 (Daily Mirror) - Two youths in Lunuwila have filed a Fundamental Rights petition before the Supreme Court alleging that they were unlawfully arrested, falsely implicated in a heroin trafficking case, and wrongfully remanded for more than two months by officers attached to the Lunuwila Police Station.

The petition was filed by Alawathurage Roshan Perera and Silmaguruge Nalin Sampath Fernando naming several police officers, including the Officer-in-Charge of the Lunuwila Police Station, the Inspector General of Police and other officials as respondents.

The petitioners state that on March 10, 2026, they visited the Lunuwila Police Station to lodge a complaint against an individual who had allegedly threatened them over a loan dispute. However, instead of recording their complaint, the police allegedly detained them and later fabricated allegations that they had been found in possession of heroin.

According to the petition, the first petitioner was allegedly assaulted by the Officer-in-Charge before being placed in a police cell, while both petitioners claim they were never informed of the reasons for their arrest. They further allege that police subsequently produced them before the Marawila Magistrate’s Court on charges of possessing and trafficking heroin.

The petitioners contend that the B Reports filed in court falsely stated that they had been arrested on March 11, 2026, at separate locations in Lunuwila while in possession of narcotics, whereas they had in fact been taken into custody inside the police station on the previous night.

The petition states that family members of the petitioners subsequently lodged complaints with the Inspector General of Police, the National Police Commission and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka, alleging that the narcotics case had been fabricated.

Following these complaints, an investigation was reportedly conducted by the Chilaw Divisional Crime Detection Bureau (CCDB). The petition states that investigators recorded statements from several witnesses, examined mobile telephone tower data and reviewed CCTV footage relating to the alleged arrests.

According to the petition, the CCDB investigation found that the petitioners had indeed visited the police station on the night of March 10 to make a complaint and had been detained there. The investigation allegedly revealed that no official records had been maintained regarding their detention and that false entries had later been made to suggest that they had been arrested elsewhere on narcotics charges.

The petition further states that CCTV footage failed to support the version of events presented by the police officers and that the investigating officers recommended disciplinary action against those responsible.

The petitioners were subsequently discharged by the Marawila Magistrate’s Court on May 18, 2026. However, they allege that despite the order of discharge, they remained in custody at the Negombo Prison until May 19 and May 20 respectively.

They have also requested compensation amounting to Rs. 10 million, a full investigation into the conduct of the police officers concerned, and appropriate disciplinary and criminal action against any persons found responsible for fabricating evidence and instituting false charges.

The petition has been filed through Attorney-at-Law  Anjana Adhikaramge.