COLOMBO- Sri Lankan authorities arrested a 43-year-old suspect on June 12 for allegedly committing treason by fabricating hijacking threats against a SriLankan Airlines (UL) flight arriving from Indonesia.
Police officials confirmed that the suspect made multiple false claims about planned hijacking attempts, triggering widespread security alerts across the country’s aviation infrastructure.
Colombo Airport; Photo- WikipediaSriLankan Airlines False Hijack Threat
The suspect conducted a series of telephone calls on June 11 to various security agencies, warning about a purported hijacking plot targeting the incoming aircraft.
The calls reached the 119 Police Emergency Unit, SriLankan Airlines (UL) operations centre, Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) security personnel, and the Presidential Secretariat, creating a coordinated pattern of false security threats.
Each call contained specific warnings about a group allegedly planning to hijack the Sri Lankan Airlines (UL) flight during its arrival from Indonesia.
The suspect’s claims prompted immediate security responses from multiple agencies, demonstrating the serious nature of the fabricated threats and their potential impact on national security operations.
View of the apron from inside, Colombo Airport; Photo- WikipediaInvestigation
Security personnel at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) immediately alerted police authorities upon receiving the threatening calls.
Police investigators traced the origin of the communications to the Wellawatte Police Division jurisdiction, initiating comprehensive tracking procedures to identify the caller’s location.
Wellawatte Police conducted detailed investigations using telephone analysis technology and cellular tower data to pinpoint the exact source of the threatening calls.
The technical investigation led officers to a hotel located on 33rd Lane in Wellawatte, where they successfully located and arrested the suspect.
Colombo Airport; Photo- WikipediaSuspect’s Extended Hotel Stay
Police investigators discovered that the suspect had checked into the Wellawatte hotel three months before the arrest, paying Rs. 3,000 for what was originally intended as a single night’s accommodation. The extended stay period raised additional questions about the suspect’s activities and financial circumstances during the three months.
Authorities revealed that the suspect operates an employment agency business, though specific details about the agency’s operations and client base remain under investigation.
The employment agency connection adds complexity to the case, as investigators examine potential links between the suspect’s business activities and the false hijacking claims.
Jaffna Court, Colombo, Sri Lanka; Photo- Sri Lanka MirrorOutstanding Arrest Warrant
Further investigation revealed that the Jaffna Magistrate’s Court had issued a pending arrest warrant against the suspect for unrelated charges. This outstanding legal matter demonstrates the suspect’s previous involvement with the judicial system and adds additional legal complications to the current treason charges.
The existence of the prior arrest warrant suggests ongoing legal issues that may have contributed to the suspect’s current circumstances.
Police investigators are examining connections between the outstanding warrant and the recent false hijacking claims to determine if related motivations influenced the suspect’s actions.
Transactions Under Scrutiny
Police discovered that the suspect had been receiving US dollar remittances from overseas sources during the period leading up to the false hijacking claims.
Investigators launched a comprehensive inquiry into these international financial transactions to determine their source, purpose, and potential connection to the security threats.
The foreign currency remittances raise questions about the suspect’s international connections and possible motivations for creating false security threats. Financial investigators are analysing transaction patterns, sources, and timing to establish whether the remittances influenced the suspect’s decision to fabricate hijacking warnings.
Photo- RawpixelElectronic Evidence
Authorities seized multiple electronic devices and documents from the suspect, including a tablet computer, an iPhone, a portable Wi-Fi router, headsets, and bank receipts related to money transfer activities.
The seized equipment provides investigators with digital evidence that may reveal additional details about the suspect’s planning and communications.
The tablet computer contained particularly concerning photographic content, including images of LTTE leaders and flags, heads of state, and photographs of airports and aircraft. This digital evidence suggests the suspect maintained an interest in aviation security matters and political figures, potentially indicating premeditation in the false threat creation.
Photo- PexelsCase Transferred
Police officials transferred the suspect from Wellawatte Police custody to Katunayake Airport Police for specialised investigation procedures.
The transfer reflects the serious nature of aviation security threats and the need for specialised expertise in handling cases involving airport and aircraft security.
The Katunayake Airport Police possess specific jurisdiction and expertise in aviation security matters, making them the appropriate authority for conducting detailed investigations into the false hijacking claims.
The suspect, identified as a resident of Colombo 15, remains in custody while investigators continue examining the evidence and international financial connections.
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