• Arrest follows CID probe into firearm issued for personal security in 2001

The Gampaha Magistrate’s Court yesterday (28) ordered the remand of former Minister Douglas Devananda until 9 January, 2026, following his arrest by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

He was produced before Gampaha Additional Magistrate Padma Amaratunga after being arrested on 26 December in connection with an investigation conducted by the Homicide and Organised Crime Investigation Division of the CID.

The arrest relates to inquiries into a firearm that had been issued to Devananda by the Sri Lanka Army for his personal security in 2001. The weapon was later recovered in 2019 during the interrogation of organised criminal Samaarasingha Arachchige Madush Lakshitha alias Makandure Madush.

Investigators have later confirmed, through the serial number, the firearm recovered was one issued to the former Minister. During questioning, Devananda was reportedly unable to provide a satisfactory explanation as to how the weapon came to be misplaced, which led to his arrest.