Special courts to hear organised crime cases

The government is set to establish special courts to expedite the hearing of organized crime cases, ensuring that such cases do not drag on for years. 

This was revealed by Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala during a special press conference held at the Department of Government Information, Colombo, today, August 28, 2025, a day after the arrest of five notorious Sri Lankan underworld criminals in Indonesia, involved in drug trafficking, murders, and contract killings.

Highlighting the financial and social burden of maintaining these criminals, the Minister added, “We cannot let cases drag on for years. We have decided to establish special courts to speed up the hearing of organized crime cases.”

Mr. Wijepala emphasised, “The law is equal for everyone, whether a politician, a criminal, or an ordinary citizen. Today, the law is free from political interference, and our duty is to restore the public’s trust in justice.”

“This is a strong message to criminals hiding abroad and those who supported them in politics—no one is beyond the law. The underworld in Sri Lanka grew largely because of political patronage in the past. Today, our police are free from political influence, and we are giving them full independence to act,” the Minister stressed.

He further thanked the Indonesian Metropolitan Police, the Government of Indonesia, Indian intelligence agencies, and the Sri Lanka Police, including the special team of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), for their support during the seven-day operation. 

“We are grateful to the Indonesian police, their government, and our partners in Malaysia, Thailand, Abu Dhabi, and India,” Wijepala added. “We have built strong collaborations with foreign embassies and agencies, which is why this joint operation succeeded. We also thank the Sri Lankan public for providing valuable information,” he further said.

Police Spokesperson ASP F.U. Wootler told Times that the five arrested criminals are Backhoe Saman, Thembili Lahiru, Kehelbaddara Padme, Commando Salinda, and Panadura Nilanga.

All five had Interpol Red Notices issued against them.

 A female associate, identified as the wife of Backhoe Saman, was also arrested in Jakarta, Indonesia, along with her seven-year-old child.

This marks the first time in Sri Lankan history that the police have conducted an operation directly in coordination with international law enforcement to arrest a number of criminals operating from overseas.

The latest arrests in Indonesia were part of a seven-day coordinated plan, supported by Indian intelligence and carried out with the full cooperation of the Indonesian Metropolitan Police, Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and Interpol.

Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasuriya noted that this is the first operation of its kind carried out with Indonesia, emphasizing that Sri Lankan police cannot operate directly in other countries but can provide intelligence and support to foreign counterparts.

He further stated that the arrested criminals are currently being held in Indonesia and will be deported to Sri Lanka within the next couple of days. “This is a clear message to all criminals hiding overseas—no matter where they are, Sri Lanka will track them down and bring them before justice,” he added.

The conference also revealed that a central police database has been created, supported by automated facial recognition technology at airports. This system, integrated with Interpol data, has helped issue more Red Notices while tightening border controls. Police also highlighted improved analytical and intelligence-gathering processes, enabling better prevention of crimes.

The press conference was told that 75 Interpol Red Notices have been issued, with 20 criminals already deported or extradited. All of them are suspects central to drug trafficking, contract killings, and assassinations. 

Police data shows that in 2025 alone, there have been 80 underworld-related incidents, leaving 40 dead, 42 injured, and 23 unharmed. The centralized database and advanced tools have already led to the seizure of 1,612 illegal weapons and the arrest of 336 shooters linked to underworld shootings.

Ravi Seneviratne, Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security, and Ruwan Kumara, Director of the Crime Record Division, also attended the press conference.

By Ishu Bandara