The three-story house worth four crores belonging to 'Batuwatte Chamara' is sealed.

The Illegal Assets Investigation Division has taken steps to ban a three-story house, valued at approximately four crore rupees (40 million LKR), belonging to Manoj Suranga alias 'Batuwatte Chamara', a prominent member of the gang of the slain underworld leader Ganemulla Sanjeewa, who is currently hiding in a foreign country, for a period of seven days. It has been revealed that this house, located in the Ja-Ela, Weligampitiya area, was purchased in his wife's name.

Previously, this house, which was used for residence by Batuwatte Chamara's wife, has been subjected to gunfire on three occasions. However, investigations have confirmed that about two months ago, another person rented it and has been operating an elder care home within the building.

Meanwhile, the police have taken steps to obtain a seven-day detention order for the ten suspects arrested by the Navy with a stock of drugs and firearms on two fishing vessels. This order was issued yesterday (13) after they were produced before the Colombo Magistrate's Court. The police have identified these suspects, aged between 22 and 49, as residents of Iranawila, Mahawewa, Melsiripura, Wennappuwa, Negombo, Nakulugama, Tangalle, Netolpitiya, and Gandara areas.

Security forces succeeded in finding 'Ice' (crystal methamphetamine) and heroin drugs worth over ten billion rupees, as well as eleven modern firearms, inside the main multi-day fishing vessel that was apprehended. This included eight pistols, two T-56 assault rifles, and one M-16 type firearm. Police suspect that these weapons and drug consignment were sent under the direction of two powerful drug traffickers residing abroad, Paravi Suda and Angoda Priyankara.

The transportation operations related to this trafficking were directed by a 23-year-old youth who acted as the chief of the apprehended multi-day fishing vessel named 'Hansana'. Information has been revealed that drug traffickers abroad had provided him with money for this purpose. This fishing vessel, carrying a consignment of 654 kg of drugs, was taken into Navy custody with five suspects on the 8th of last month in the sea area south of the island. Subsequently, another multi-day fishing vessel and five individuals on board were also arrested by the Navy under the charge of aiding and abetting the first vessel.