May 04, Colombo (LNW): A large-scale crackdown directed by Sri Lanka’s Inspector General of Police (IGP) has resulted in hundreds of arrests as authorities intensified efforts to curb crime and drug-related activity across the country.
Police reported that operations carried out nationwide on May 03 saw more than 26,000 individuals being stopped and checked as part of coordinated security measures. From this extensive screening process, 548 people were detained on suspicion, while a further 147 were positively identified as having direct links to criminal conduct.
The operation also focused heavily on tracking down individuals evading the law. Officers succeeded in apprehending 212 suspects with outstanding warrants, alongside 158 suspects already named in open cases, signalling a renewed push to clear long-pending legal matters.
Traffic enforcement formed another key component of the initiative. Authorities arrested 135 motorists for driving under the influence of alcohol and detained 83 others for dangerous or reckless driving behaviour. In addition, nearly 4,000 drivers faced legal action for a range of other traffic offences, reflecting a stricter stance on road safety.