The Nugegoda Magistrate’s Court and the Colombo Magistrate’s Court have issued arrest warrants against Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera and the former Executive Director of the National Lotteries Board (NLB), Thusitha Halloluwa, following a request made by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) and the Police.

The case relates to the alleged abduction of Ape Janabala Party General Secretary Ven. Wedinigama Wimalatissa Thera in 2020, in order to intimidate him and secure the party’s National List parliamentary seat. According to CCD reports, officers had visited Rathana Thera’s residence, Sandaham Sevana in Rajagiriya, on the night of 7 August to arrest him, but he was not present and his mobile phone had been switched off.

Investigators revealed that former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and sacked Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon are also scheduled to be questioned in connection with the incident. The complaint reportedly makes explicit references to Tennakoon’s involvement in the abduction and the manipulation of the National List MP appointment.

The abduction, which occurred about five years ago, has already led to the arrest of two suspects. The first suspect was taken into custody on 20 July.

In a separate incident linked to Thusitha Halloluwa, police are also probing the shooting of a vehicle he and his lawyer were travelling in, during which an important file was allegedly stolen. A CCD team later visited his residence to arrest him, but he was not at home.

Police confirmed that the gunman, motorcyclist, and several accomplices involved in the shooting have since been arrested. Statements obtained during interrogations, along with technical evidence, have directly implicated Halloluwa, prompting the move to arrest him.