754 kg of dried cannabis found in a Thanamalwila house
Police in Thanamalwila arrested a 57-year-old man after finding 754 kg of dried cannabis, valued at nearly 100 million rupees, in a room of his house in the Arambekema area. An investigation into his assets is also under way.
🇱🇰 Arambekema, Thanamalwila, Monaragala District · Sri Lanka
Police in Thanamalwila arrested a 57-year-old man after finding 754 kilograms of
dried cannabis in a room of his house in the Arambekema area, Hiru News and TTV
News reported on 16 and 17 October 2026.[1][2]
The man, known by the alias “Bathalahin Mahaththaya”, had prepared the stock for
sale, the police said.[1][2]Officers searched the house on a tip-off.[1][2]
Police valued the cannabis at nearly 100 million rupees.[1][2]An investigation
into the suspect’s assets was also under way, and several properties belonging to
him had previously been frozen, TTV News reported.[2]Preliminary investigations
indicated he was connected to a large-scale cannabis trade, the police said.[2]
He was to be produced before the Wellawaya Magistrate’s Court, and Thanamalwila
police were continuing the investigation.[1][2]
Case data
Every number and detail the sources state, with the sources that state it.
Arrested
1
Cannabis
754 kg
Value (official estimate)
LKR 100,000,000
Agency type
Police
Cannabis
Herbal cannabis (754 kg)
Setting
Home
Case stage
Under investigation
Sources
Hiru Newshirunews.lkRaid uncovers 754kg of dried cannabis worth nearly Rs. 100 million
Galle District Crime Division officers arrested a 41-year-old Unawatuna resident in a local raid and recovered over 125 grams of Kush alongside crystal methamphetamine. Police said further investigations into the possession case were underway.
Army Intelligence and wildlife officers raided a three-acre cannabis plantation holding more than 35,000 plants inside the Somawathiya Reserve at Agbopura, Divulgaswewa on 3 November 2026. One suspect was arrested at the scene and the Kantale wildlife department is conducting further legal proceedings.
Wildlife officers and Army Intelligence raided two cannabis plantations covering about 1.5 acres above Dozer Pitiya inside Somawathiya National Park on 2 November 2026. One suspect was arrested and remanded by the Hingurakgoda Court until 13 November while two other suspects fled.
Officers of the Walana Central Anti-Corruption Striking Unit raided a half-acre cannabis cultivation at Gomele Mav-Ara on 30 September 2026, seizing 47,150 plants. A 53-year-old man from Udagama was arrested and handed to Meegahagamuwa police with the plants.
