Search for Athuraliye Rathana Thero Intensifies Amid Evasion Concerns

11-Aug-2025

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While efforts to arrest former Member of Parliament Athuraliye Rathana Thero continue, these attempts have repeatedly failed.

Colombo Crime Division officers have reportedly searched about ten locations, including Colombo and its surrounding areas, where he is believed to be staying.

These places include several temples and houses, according to a senior police officer.

Since there is no evidence of his presence at any of these locations, special security measures have been implemented to prevent him from fleeing the country.

Officers are now monitoring several temples and residential complexes in the Southern Province, where he is most likely to be hiding.

Rathana Thero is wanted in connection with the abduction of Vedinikama Vimalatissa Thero, the General Secretary of the “Our People’s Power” party.

It is also suspected that Rathana Thero may have obtained the National List MP position that the party secured in 2020.

This long-pending investigation was reopened with the appointment of Senior Superintendent of Police Indika Lokuhetty as the new head of the Colombo Crime Division.

The Colombo Crime Division revealed that several such cases were pending and that all of them have now been restarted.

Reports also allege the involvement of Colombo Crime Division officers in some crimes, with some of these officers previously being given Officer-in-Charge (OIC) positions at police stations despite their alleged criminal involvement.