[Sri Lanka] - 40 detained with drugs and weapons throughout pre-dawn raid in Wellampitiya

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
At least 40 persons, including four females, have been arrested at Sinhapura in Wellampitiya, while in possession of drugs and weapons.The
group was arrested during a pre-dawn joint operation carried out by the Police, Special Task Force (STF) and the Sri Lanka Army on Sunday
(26 Nov.).A total of 138 police personnel and 200 Army personnel carried out the raid, during which 61 houses and 196 persons were
searched.Various narcotic substances including heroin and crystal methamphetamine (ICE), illicit alcohol, swords and other weaponry, along
with 12 mobile phones, were recovered during the raid, which had been carried out on the directives of Western Province Senior Deputy
Inspector General of Police (SDIG) Deshabandu Tennakoon, Western Province DIG (South) Gayanga Marapana and Western Province South District
Crime Division Superintendent of Police (SP) Lalith Abeysekara.