German Woman Arrested After Attempting to Flee

A German national was arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) while attempting to leave the country, allegedly in violation of a court-imposed travel ban. The woman had previously handed over a laptop computer to a security officer at the Russian Embassy in Colombo under suspicious circumstances and subsequently fled the scene.

According to the Police Media Division, she was apprehended on May 7 as she tried to board a flight out of the country despite a court order preventing her from doing so. The arrest followed an active investigation into an incident that took place on April 28.

Reports from investigating officers indicate that the woman had entered the Russian Embassy premises in Colombo and handed over the laptop to a private security guard. However, her identity was not revealed during the exchange, nor were her intentions clarified. Following this incident, the Russian Embassy lodged an official complaint with the Kollupitiya Police Station.

In response, a joint investigation was launched by the Kollupitiya Police and the Colombo South Division Criminal Investigations Unit. Investigators were able to uncover significant information about the suspect’s background and movements, leading them to take further legal steps.

Based on the evidence gathered, the police presented facts before court on May 4, successfully obtaining a travel ban against the suspect until the investigation was concluded. Nevertheless, on May 7, the woman attempted to leave Sri Lanka through the BIA, disregarding the court order. Airport police officers identified and detained her on the spot and subsequently handed her over to the Kollupitiya Police for further investigation.

The suspect was later produced before the Aluthkade Magistrate’s Court, where the magistrate ordered her release on bail. However, police confirmed that the investigation against her remains ongoing.

According to sources, the woman was questioned for over five hours with the assistance of a language interpreter. A critical point of concern emerged during the interrogation — the suspect refused to provide the password to access the laptop, which remains a central piece of evidence in the case.

Further investigations also revealed that the suspect may have had plans to flee from Sri Lanka to China, adding another layer of complexity to the case. Authorities are treating this as a potentially sensitive matter involving both national security and international diplomatic concerns.

As investigations continue, law enforcement agencies are examining the implications of the incident on security protocols at foreign diplomatic missions in Sri Lanka, especially those related to information security and international relations.

This unusual and sensitive case has raised serious questions about diplomatic security, foreign interference, and the handling of sensitive digital information, with potential ramifications for state security and international diplomacy.