Several police teams have been deployed to arrest W.M. Athula Tilakaratne, whose recent release on a Presidential Pardon, has sparked controversy.

According to Police Headquarters, officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Anuradhapura Police Division have been deployed for the search.

Tilakaratne was convicted by the Anuradhapura High Court over the fraud and misuse of Rs.04 million.

A senior police officer has stated that Tilakaratne is to be extensively questioned regarding the circumstances of his arrest and how he was granted the presidential pardon.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has unveiled that 25 prison inmates not eligible for Presidential Pardon have been released in that manner on Christmas Day in 2024.

This has come into light during an ongoing investigation pertaining to the release of a prisoner on Presidential Pardon from Anuradhapura Prison, which had sparked controversy.

The report reveals that after the President’s signature on the records, prison officials had failed to properly re-verify documents, enabling corrupt officials to illegally release the prisoners.

The CID is currently investigating this matter.

(Source: Aruna)

03 police officers, including the OIC of the Crimes Division of Beruwala Police, were injured in an assault near the Beruwala fishing harbor and admitted to Nagoda Teaching Hospital.

05 individuals have been arrested over the incident, according to the police.

This assault reportedly began after police instructed a group hanging flags from a lorry near the Beruwala fishing harbor not to block the road.

The verbal exchange has escalated into an assault on the police, prompting officers to fire shots into the air to control the situation.