A businessman in Thanamalwila has been arrested for allegedly selling illegally imported cigarettes to schoolchildren.

Police investigations revealed that the suspect had been supplying the foreign cigarettes to a student, who was then reselling them to other students on school premises. 

The student bought the cigarettes for Rs. 100 per stick and sold them for Rs. 200.

The operation was uncovered after a student informed the school principal. 

A search of the student selling the cigarettes led to the discovery of two sticks. Acting on this information, police raided the suspect's business, seizing 690 sticks of foreign cigarettes and Rs. 360,000 in cash. 

The suspect is set to be produced before the Hambantota Magistrate’s Court.