Three suspects were arrested during a raid on a cannabis cultivation in the Maw Ara area of Hambegamuwa, in an operation that combined arrests with eradication of the crop.[1][2][3] According to the Sri Lanka Army, the operation was carried out by officers of the Monaragala Police Narcotics Bureau acting on information provided by Army Military Intelligence.[1][2][3] Following the raid, the three arrested suspects were handed over to the Hambegamuwa Police for further police investigations.[1][2]

At the Maw Ara site, officers found approximately two acres of land under cannabis cultivation, with a total of 36,710 cannabis plants growing there.[1][2][3] The plants found during the raid were tall, mature, standing plants measuring between six and eight feet in height.[1][2] The Army said all 36,710 cannabis plants were uprooted and then destroyed by burning at the same location.[1][2][3] The approximately two acres of cultivated land reported at the site corresponds to about 0.81 hectares.[1]