News
More arrests ordered as police dig into the bottom of the narcotics case
View(s):By Nidarshani Wickramasinghe
Police has launched a search for another Buddhist monk and two others allegedly involved in the incident of using 22 monks to smuggle narcotics into the country, a senior police officer said.
The case related to the monks was taken up at the Negombo courts yesterday. Negombo Additional Magistrate Subhani Abeysekara on the 26th ordered that they be detained and questioned until May 2.
Twenty-two Buddhist monks were arrested at BIA in connection with the seizure of drugs, valued at Rs. 1.1 billion. The detection was made when the monks were returning from a trip to Thailand.
The monks appearing in court on Saturday
Acting on a tipoff, officers from the Airport Narcotics Bureau apprehended them at the airport terminal. It was also revealed that these monks had travelled to Thailand without obtaining the required recommendations from their chief prelates.
The Magistrate also ordered that the suspect, Agunukole Amitananda of Sri Punya Lankaramaya Temple, Rammuthugala, Kadawatha, who had been prepared to receive this illegal consignment of narcotics at Katunayake Airport, be detained and questioned for seven days until yesterday.
This group of 22 monks, arrested at 10:30 p.m. on 25/04/2026, had returned from a tour of Thailand and was apprehended by officers of the Airport Narcotics Bureau at the departure terminal of Katunayake Airport based on received intelligence. The group of suspects was produced before court.
The drugs were found in their baggage concealed in false bottoms while the bags were packed with school supplies such as pens and pencils as well as various sweets, thereby very carefully concealing the parcels containing the narcotics.
Accordingly, officials informed the court that each monk had concealed at least four to five kilograms of narcotics in his suitcase.
Preliminary investigations have also revealed that this group of monks had departed for Bangkok, Thailand, on April 22, using airline tickets provided by some sponsor.
During investigations their mobile phones were examined and police discovered photographs and video footage showing them dressed in ordinary civilian clothes in the streets.
Appearing for the defense were Attorney-at-Law Dulisha Wijesuriya, together with Senior Counsel Nelson Kumaranayake, and under the guidance of Senior Counsel Ajith Pathirana, Attorneys Tharindu Wickramanayake, Buddhi Udara, Sachith Welgama, and Namal Wanigasuriya.
Facts were presented by Officer-in-Charge of the Airport Police Narcotics Bureau Sanath Kumara, Police Sergeant Abeykoon, Police Sergeant Marambage, and Police Constable Prasanna.
Police Narcotics Bureau Sub-Inspector Rajapaksha informed the court that when the young monks were arrested with the narcotics they had brought, Bhikkhu Amitananda had been waiting at the airport to receive them. As soon as the monks were arrested, Amitananda, becoming agitated, fled the airport and went into hiding in the Migahawatta area, where he was later arrested during an operation conducted by several investigative teams.
Officials also informed the court that Amitananda Bhikkhu’s medical report regarding narcotics was positive and that he had been under the influence of narcotic substances at that time. The medical examination had been conducted by Judicial Medical Officers, and the relevant reports were submitted to court.
It was further revealed that the WhatsApp group used to recruit the young monks for the Thailand trip had been administered by Amitananda Bhikkhu.
Police told courts that it was necessary to conduct further investigations into the narcotics distribution network and therefore requested permission to detain and question the suspects. Granting permission, the Magistrate ordered that the medical reports of the other monks arrested that day also be submitted.
In addition, it was pointed out that an iPhone 17 Pro Max belonging to suspect Amitananda Thera, along with several other mobile phones, had been recovered, and that investigations were required into the domestic and international calls contained therein.
The Magistrate ordered the relevant companies to provide analytical reports on the phones.
Investigating officers also stated that evidence had been received indicating that the 22 monks arrested the previous day had been used by this suspect monk for transporting narcotics within Sri Lanka. It was stated that further investigations are being carried out in this regard as well.
Accordingly, the Magistrate ordered that further investigative reports be submitted to court on May 2 and granted permission for the suspect monk to be detained in the custody of the Police Narcotics Bureau until May 2 for questioning.
The 23 monks in custody, including Agunukole Amitananda Thera, were produced in the Negombo Magistrate courts yesterday and Additional Magistrate Subhani Abeysekara ordered that they be remanded until May 12.
Presenting facts before court, police said a layperson named Chandrakumara Dayarathna had been arrested and produced before the Kaduwela Magistrate’s Court, and detention orders had been obtained until May 12.
He stated that the said suspect would be named as the third suspect in this case involving the 22 monks.
Court also imposed a travel ban on two monks including Ven. Ambagasmulla Punyarathana Thera, who is evading arrest.
Police is also looking for the monk Belpitiye Dhammarakkhita, also known as Dhamma, who had arranged hotel accommodation for the 22 monks who travelled to Thailand.
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