Overseas Criminals Ready to Surrender To CID

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s intensified campaign against organized crime appears to be reaching a critical turning point, with several criminals currently hiding overseas now expressing readiness to voluntarily surrender, according to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

The development was revealed by Deputy Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs, Attorney-at-Law Sunil Watagala, who stated that the CID has been formally informed of this growing willingness among foreign-based offenders to hand themselves over.

The announcement was made during the Colombo Public Security Committee meeting, which was held yesterday (26) under the leadership of Deputy Minister Watagala.

Addressing the gathering, the Deputy Minister outlined the completion of a nationwide public security organizational network, describing it as a long-awaited structural foundation now ready to be actively deployed.

He explained that this network includes a National Policy Committee, District Committees, Divisional Committees, and Public Security Committees, all of which have now been fully established across the country.

According to him, the focus has now shifted from formation to direct intervention and enforcement, utilizing this comprehensive framework to confront long-standing criminal threats.

Deputy Minister Watagala highlighted that the toxic narcotics supply network has operated in Sri Lanka for decades, functioning as a deeply entrenched criminal enterprise. He stated that, historically, this network survived and expanded with political patronage and protection, allowing it to flourish over generations.

However, he emphasized that a fundamental shift has occurred since the current government assumed office.

He acknowledged that while drug supply chains continue to function even without political backing, law enforcement has now traced these chains upward and outward, identifying that the uppermost links operate from overseas.

The Deputy Minister confirmed that the government has now taken the fight beyond Sri Lanka’s borders, actively targeting foreign-based supply chains and criminal networks.

He stated that international operations are now underway under red notice mechanisms, marking a decisive escalation in Sri Lanka’s response to transnational crime.

Within this intensified enforcement drive, a significant number of organized criminals abroad have reached out to the Criminal Investigation Department, signaling their intention to voluntarily surrender.

According to Deputy Minister Watagala, this shift is driven by a growing realization among these individuals that there is no longer any escape route.