SJB candidate further remanded in major drug bust

Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama ordered the further remand of nine suspects, including Wasantha Pushpakumara, a candidate from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya in a previous local government election, until February 3.

The group was apprehended by the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) in the southern deep seas while transporting a massive haul of 261 kg of "ICE" and 115 kg of heroin aboard a multi-day fishing trawler.

The suspects, who are residents of Tangalle and the surrounding areas, appeared before the court today (20) via Zoom.

PNB officials requested continued detention to finalise investigations, noting that several reports are still pending.

The court granted permission to refer the trawler’s GPS device to the Survey Department for analysis and to send two firearms seized during the raid to the Government Analyst for inspection.