Police say that the wife of the principal arrested in Anuradhapura for possession of heroin is Disna Neranjala, a Peliyagoda Municipal Councillor representing the National People’s Power (NPP) — and a relative of the notorious drug trafficker and criminal, Kosgoda Suji.
Meanwhile, police have also begun an investigation into the assets of the arrested principal.
The suspect, who serves as a principal at a government school, was taken into custody on November 5.
Earlier, on October 29, a young man had been arrested in Ipalogama, Anuradhapura, by local police for possession of heroin.
During interrogation, while being held in remand, the suspect reportedly told one of his associates who came to visit him that he had hidden a parcel of heroin at his home. He then instructed this associate to conceal it near a nearby tank (reservoir).
The associate had done so, but later, according to police, the suspect told his father to retrieve the parcel from his friend and hide it behind their home instead.
Police further revealed that the suspect had told his father that the parcel contained over one kilogram of heroin, valued at over Rs. 20 million, and that there was a risk the associate might steal it.
Acting on this advice, the suspect’s father had the associate return the heroin, which he then buried behind their home in Galnewa.
Based on a tip received by the Anuradhapura Divisional Crime Investigation Division, police arrested the associate first. During questioning, he disclosed information about the hidden heroin.
Following this, police discovered the parcel — containing 1 kilogram, 185 grams, and 400 milligrams of heroin.
Subsequent questioning of the suspect’s father revealed that he was the principal of a government school in the area. Further investigations confirmed that his wife was Disna Neranjala, a Peliyagoda Municipal Councillor from the NPP.
Police later searched the councillor’s residence in Peliyagoda on Tuesday evening, but nothing suspicious was found.
However, police say that Disna Neranjala is a relative of Kosgoda Suji, a well-known large-scale drug trafficker and underworld criminal.
The principal and the other suspect are to be produced in court today, and police confirmed that investigations into their assets and financial dealings are ongoing.
The investigation is being conducted under the direction of Senior DIG for the North Central Province, Buddhika Siriwardena, and supervision of Anuradhapura Divisional Senior Superintendent Tilina Hewapathirana, led by Chief Inspector Nuwan Wickramasinghe, head of the Anuradhapura Divisional Crime Investigation Unit.
