SL police works with India, Malaysia, Thailand, Abu Dhabi to track down criminals hiding overseas: IGP

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya   

Sri Lanka is working with law enforcement authorities in  India, Malaysia, Thailand, Abu Dhabi and Indonesia to apprehend Sri  Lankan criminals who have fled abroad, Inspector General of Police (IGP)  Priyantha Weerasooriya said yesterday.   

The IGP noted that despite ongoing international  operations, existing laws are inadequate to deal with the growing  complexities of organised crime. He stressed the need for a dedicated  legal framework to effectively prosecute such cases.   

Meanwhile, Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala  announced that the government is planning to set up special courts to  expedite trials against organised criminals, citing long delays and the  high cost of maintaining suspects during lengthy legal  proceedings. Speaking to the media, Minister Wijepala said the move comes  amid growing concerns over the large amount of public funds required to  detain and provide security for organised crime suspects during lengthy  legal proceedings. He said that any legal action would be taken  strictly within the existing legal framework, but special high courts  are being proposed to accelerate the judicial process.   

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Priyantha Weerasooriya  also addressed the matter, saying that existing laws are insufficient to  deal with the complexities of organised crime.   

He said the Sri Lanka Police, in coordination with the  Justice Ministry, is working on drafting special legislation to  effectively prosecute organised crime cases.   

“Normal law cannot handle these cases. We need a dedicated legal framework,” the IGP said.   

The minister and the IGP made these remarks at a media  briefing held following the international operation in Jakarta,  Indonesia, where six key Sri Lankan underworld figures were arrested in a  joint mission involving the Sri Lanka Criminal Investigation Department  (CID) and Indonesian Police.   

Among those arrested were high-profile figures including  Kehelbaddara Padme, Commando Salinda, Panadura Nilanga, Thembili Lahiru,  Backhoe Saman, and his wife. The arrests were made following a  week-long covert operation conducted by a Sri Lankan special team and  Indonesian law enforcement agencies.   

Minister Wijepala said that steps are underway to repatriate the suspects to Sri Lanka in the coming days.   

He added that the operation was successful due to the complete  freedom and non-interference given to law enforcement authorities under  the current government. “Under the NPP government, no one is above the  law. Justice will be applied equally, whether it’s a politician, a  gangster, a civil person or an official,” he said.   

Minister Wijepala said that the government has focused  attention on politicians involved with underworld figures, revealing  that investigations are underway into such links and properties linked  to such connections.   

Meanwhile, IGP Weerasooriya said that organised crime in  Sri Lanka had grown with political backing in previous years. “Once that  political support disappeared, many of these criminals fled the  country,” he said. He said that the Sri Lanka Police are working in close  coordination with foreign missions to arrest wanted criminals now hiding  in countries such as India, Malaysia, Thailand, the UAE, Indonesia,  Oman, Russia, Belarus, France and several others.

Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security Ravi  Seneviratne said that transnational organised crime has become a  significant challenge in recent months, with many criminal networks  operating out of foreign countries. “These criminals are hiding overseas  and orchestrating crimes and drug operations in Sri Lanka,” he said.   

Seneviratne said that many of these criminals are linked to  past crimes involving shootings and drug trafficking, often with  political protection. He said that several suspects have already been  extradited from countries like India and the UAE, and more operations are  underway in collaboration with foreign missions. Speaking on the recent Jakarta arrests, the IGP revealed  that five of the six suspects were already listed under Interpol Red  Notices. A child was also reportedly detained during the operation.  “Though our officers did not make the arrests directly, a special police  team that is in Indonesia provided critical intelligence and worked  closely with Interpol and Indonesian authorities,” Weerasooriya said,  calling the operation “historic” in the country’s fight against  organised crime.   

Meanwhile, SSP Ruwan Kumara Director of the Colombo Record  Division, said that more than 300 suspects connected to organised crime  have been arrested this year alone.   

These include 36 contract shooters and 25 motorcycle riders involved in shootings.   

So far in 2025, over 80 shooting incidents have been  reported, resulting in more than 40 deaths and 42 injuries. Police have  also seized around 200 firearms, including T-56 assault rifles, pistols,  and revolvers, as well as another 1,600 weapons believed to have been  used in criminal activities.