23 Monks Back In Remand Over Drug Racket

COLOMBO (News 1st); Twenty-three Buddhist monks arrested over a large-scale narcotics smuggling operation have been further remanded until June 9 by the Negombo Additional Magistrate’s Court.

The order was issued by Additional Magistrate Shubhani Abeysekara after the suspects were produced before the court, with the majority appearing via online proceedings.

One suspect, identified as Chandrakumara Dayaratne, named as the third accused, was presented physically before the court from Colombo Remand Prison.

The magistrate stated that the decision to conduct proceedings online was due to logistical challenges, noting that courts handle a large number of remand extension cases daily, making it difficult to accommodate all suspects within limited holding facilities.

The arrests result from a dramatic interception at Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake on April 25, when twenty-two monks returning from Thailand were found carrying a massive consignment of narcotics concealed in their luggage.

Authorities recovered approximately 112 kilograms of “Kush” and “Hash,” marking one of the most significant recent drug seizures linked to incoming passengers.

Subsequent investigations have revealed that the operation was allegedly orchestrated by a monk identified as Angunukolaye Amitananda Thero.