Police have arrested four officers from the Monaragala Division Crimes Unit on suspicion of accepting Rs. 500,000 to overlook a cannabis cultivation operation in Thanamalwila.
Four police officers attached to the Monaragala Division Crimes Unit have been taken into custody following allegations that they accepted a bribe of Rs. 500,000 from a suspect in connection with a cannabis cultivation case in the Nikawewa-Demodara Wewa area of Thanamalwila. The arrested officers include two Police Sergeants aged 37 and 45, along with two Police Constables aged 39 and 36. According to police records, the Thanamalwila Police conducted a raid on August 11 at the cultivation site after receiving information about illegal cannabis growing, during which they arrested a suspect and seized cannabis plants.
Investigations revealed a more complex situation at the location. Police discovered a total of four cannabis cultivation areas, including one that had been cut down and burned. During questioning, the primary suspect allegedly stated that six officers from the Monaragala Division Crimes Unit had visited the site on August 10—the day before the official raid—and accepted the Rs. 500,000 payment in exchange for not taking legal action. The suspect further claimed that the officers destroyed only one cultivation area while removing cannabis plants from the others.
The investigation expanded when another individual, identified as "Kalu" from the Nikawawa area, was arrested with cannabis in his possession. Kalu reportedly told investigators that officers from the Monaragala Division Crimes Unit had instructed him to dry cannabis. Both suspects were remanded by the Wellawaya Magistrate's Court pending further questioning, and information gathered from their statements led to the arrest of the four officers. The accused police officers are scheduled to appear before the Wellawaya Magistrate's Court.
