A day after four ISIS terrorists were arrested in Ahmedabad, India, Sri Lanka's Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) arrested a suspect in Colombo connected to those arrested in India.

Police Spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa said that the 44-year-old suspect was detained the day after the arrest of four Sri Lankan nationals in India and the suspect is being questioned by the TID. He said that Sri Lankan authorities are closely coordinating with Indian authorities on the investigation.

DIG Thalduwa said that IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon has appointed a special team, led by a Senior DIG, to probe the incident. It was learnt that the Sri Lanka Police to record statements from several individuals in Sri Lanka reportedly connected to the arrested suspects.

India’s Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad arrested four Sri Lankan nationals linked to ISIS at Ahmedabad airport on Monday. The squad discovered an ISIS flag and three loaded pistols among their belongings. Analysis of their mobile phones revealed photos and videos suggesting their involvement with the militant group. Additional weapons and another ISIS flag were found near Ahmedabad.

The suspects, identified as Mohammad Nafran (27), Mohammad Nusrat (33), Mohammad Faris (35), and Mohammad Rashdeen (43), are residents of Negombo, Grandpass, Maligawatta, and Mattakkuliya, respectively. They allegedly traveled from Colombo to Chennai and then to Ahmedabad, instructed by a Pakistani handler to collect the weapons. They were previously associated with the banned Sri Lankan militant group, National Thowheeth Jamath (NJT).

DIG Thalduwa said that among the four suspects is the son of Potta Naufer, a member of organized crime gangs and a drug trafficker.

Meanwhile, it was revealed that all the accused have been previously involved in gold and drug smuggling cases. Nusrat had been arrested twice at Mumbai airport for gold smuggling and has other cases related to assault and narcotics offenses in Sri Lanka. Faris has narcotics-related offenses and has been jailed in Sri Lanka, while Rasdeen has theft and drug-related offenses. Nafran, though not previously arrested, confessed to smuggling gold and drugs from Dubai and Sri Lanka.

Faris and Rasdeen reportedly visited India for the first time, while Nusrat visited nearly 38 times between 2022 and 2023, and Nafran nearly 40 times. This was their first visit to India after coming into contact with their handler in February.

The Gujarat ATS found three pistols and 20 cartridges at Nana Chiloda, linked to the operatives, who were instructed to maintain a low profile and stay at budget hotels by their handler, identified as ‘Abu’.

A senior official told the Daily Mirror that Sri Lanka will likely send investigators to Ahmedabad regarding the ongoing investigation.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe met with Most Rev. Dr. Fidelis Lionel Emmanuel Fernando, the Bishop of Mannar, Diocese of Mannar at the Mannar Bishops House today (16).

Leader of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya party, MP Udaya Gammanpila says that President Ranil Wickremesinghe is currently in 3rd place among contenders for Presidency and is doing everything possible to improve his position.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe symbolically awarded 442 out of the allotted 5,000 land deeds to the residents of the Mannar district today. This event, part of the ‘Urumaya’ national programme, aims to grant 2 million freehold deeds across the country.

Japan has expressed its willingness to resume stalled development projects in Sri Lanka once the country initiates its debt repayment process, according to Foreign Minister Ali Sabry.

The Sri Lanka Navy has seized over 600 kg of narcotics valued at over Rs. 13 billion during naval operations conducted so far in 2024.

The Provincial Council system will continue in its current form under the National People's Power government until a new system is identified to create harmony among the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities, NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said today.

Dr. S. Jaishankar, the External Affairs Minister of India, is slated to arrive in Sri Lanka on June 20 for an official visit, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.

The chair of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security Hon. Sarath Weerasekara has stated that an external mechanism has been established in Geneva, Switzerland for past 2 years according to resolution 46/1 in order to collect evidence related to war crimes against those heroes and political leaders who were accused of committing war crimes. He further stated that, in a report recently published by the said mechanism, it has been stated that they have a significant amount of evidence against the military leaders of this country.

Minister Harin Fernando today (14) revealed that an election is scheduled to take place on October 05 this year. He made this announcement during a press interaction in Galle. Expressing confidence in the outcome, Minister Fernando asserted that President Ranil Wickremesinghe would emerge triumphant in the forthcoming election.

Whilst revealing that Russian law allows that country to recruit foreigners to its military in accordance with signed contracts, Sri Lankan foreign Minister Ali Sabry yesterday said the Russian government wants local servicemen and the Sri Lankan government to uphold these contracts they have signed with their foreign employers.

Two young boys drowned while bathing in the sea off the beach close to the Negombo town last evening, Police said. The boys aged 14 and 17 are residents of Negombo.

The Sri Lanka Navy seized a multi-day fishing craft suspected be transporting heroin during a deep-sea operation conducted approximately 400 nautical miles (740 km) south of Sri Lanka.

After the 24-hour postal trade union strike, the United Postal Trade Unions Front (UPTUF) has decided to resume another countrywide trade union action on June 24 if a favorable response is not received from the Finance Ministry, UPTUF convener Chinthaka Bandara said.

The government is set to establish 25 District Industries Promotion Councils covering the entire island in support of local Micro, Small and Medium Industries (MSMEs).

Speculations are raised on whether President Ranil Wickremesinghe is once again on the search for a two thirds majority in Parliament. That is mainly due to media disclosures of recent pro-government discussions held to explore the possibility of holding a referendum in July.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa would have faced the same fate as that of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa if he had been elected as President in 2019, Presidential Advisor Ashu Marasinghe said today.

A group of retired Inspector General of Police (IGP) and retired Senior DIGs yesterday voiced their disapproval of the decision made by former Senior DIG Ravi Seneviratne and former Director of Criminal Investigation Department former SSP Shani Abeysekera to join the National People’s Power (NPP).

State Minister Shantha Bandara has been appointed as the Acting Minister of Mass Media with immediate effect. The appointment was made by the President this evening as Mass Media Minister Bandula Gunawardana has left the country on an official tour.

SLPP National Organizer Namal Rajapaksa cautioned the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the Tamil people to be mindful of politicians who change their policies suddenly to grab votes.

Former Parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayaka was acquitted from the case filed against him over a financial fraud promising to marry a female teacher in Kandy. The ruling was given by Kandy Chief Magistrate Chamara Wickramanayake.