(Sri Lanka Brief/17 October 2025)
- Ex-Director SSP Hemal Prashantha under CID probe for allegedly misusing Rs. 5 m allocated for informants
- Also, alleged admin. shortcomings, failing to carry out proper drug raids over 3 months
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Hemal Prashantha, who served as the Director of the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB), was transferred in connection with an ongoing investigation against him, according to sources from the Police Headquarters (HQ).
Prashantha is reportedly facing allegations of misusing Rs. 5 million allocated for informants, administrative shortcomings, and failing to carry out proper drug raids over a three-month period.
An investigation into the alleged misuse of the Rs. 5 million has already been launched by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Accordingly, on 25 September, approval was sought from the National Police Commission to transfer the PNB Director. The approval related to the transfer was received on Wednesday (15), and based on that, he was transferred, the sources from the Police HQ stated.
Meanwhile, over 500 suspects have been arrested by the Police on Wednesday during islandwide crime and drug prevention operations aimed at apprehending suspects involved in various criminal activities. Special operations are being conducted at the divisional level, covering all regional Police stations on the instructions of the Inspector General of Police.
The report for Wednesday is as follows: number of persons inspected – 28,020; number of persons arrested on suspicion – 577; number of persons directly linked to crimes – 17; number of persons who were on outstanding warrants – 269; number of persons on open warrants – 144; number of persons arrested for driving under the influence – 15; number of persons arrested for reckless driving – 13; and number of other traffic offences – 3,504.