• Police internal probe finds negligence  

An internal investigation by the Police Special Investigation Unit has found that Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG) Ranmal Kodithuwakku and several other officers allegedly failed to take appropriate action after receiving information about a consignment of narcotics inside containers at the Colombo Port. 

The findings were revealed following an internal inquiry conducted on the orders of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) into the seizure of a large consignment of crystal methamphetamine Ice, from containers at the Port on 31 August. Police records confirm that approximately 463 kgs of Ice were initially seized during the operation. Kodithuwakku received information on 14 August that two containers containing an illicit consignment of narcotics had been imported into Sri Lanka and were at the Port. The information was reportedly communicated by Kodithuwakku to the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) on the same day. However, on 22 August, Sub-Inspector Ekanayake of the Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) also received the information. He subsequently took the necessary steps, and, on 31 August, went to the Port, where the container was opened in the presence of Customs officers and the drugs were discovered. The investigation has found that officers from the PNB were also present at the scene, but that the initial discovery of the drug consignment was carried out primarily by officers of the CCIB. Based on the findings, the Unit has reported that Kodithuwakku and other relevant officers had allegedly neglected their duties and acted negligently in responding to the information. The Unit has recommended that, in addition to the internal inquiry, a criminal investigation should be conducted.

The IGP has consequently instructed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to determine whether the alleged negligence and failure to act on the information were intended to create a situation favourable to any particular party. The CID is expected to determine whether the circumstances warrant the establishment of criminal charges against the relevant Police officers.

The original drug seizure involved Ice concealed in a consignment of towels inside containers at the Port, with the Police later expanding investigations into the suspected trafficking operation.

However, the National Police Commission (NPC) has cancelled the transfers of Kodithuwakku, the DIG of the PNB Ashoka Dharmasena, and several other Police officers, with immediate effect. The IGP had made the relevant request to the NPC. The transfer orders of several officers, including the Director of the PNB, two Superintendents of Police, and women Police Inspectors, have reportedly been rejected. The decision was taken at the meeting of the NPC held yesterday (1).