2009 Narahenpita rice-lorry robbery indictment
Current status of the 2009 Narahenpita rice-lorry robbery indictment
The Attorney General has indicted Sampath Manamperi and three co-accused over an alleged armed robbery on 12 August 2009 near the Narahenpita junction, Colombo, in which the accused allegedly posed as police officers and threatened a Tamil businessman transporting rice from the Eastern Province, then took his lorry, cash, and mobile phone. The rice was valued at approximately Rs. 1 million. In September 2025 - by which point Sampath was already in custody in the separate Middeniya investigation - the Colombo High Court issued a warrant to have him produced and ordered a report on his custody status. No trial outcome has been located.
What’s happened
This is a distinct prosecution predating the 2025 Middeniya investigation by 16 years; the two are unrelated except that Sampath's custody in the Middeniya case is what prompted the High Court's Sep 2025 production order in this case.
- Court
- High Court of Colombo
- Next hearing / due
- No upcoming hearing announced
Sources (3)
2009 Narahenpita rice-lorry robbery indictment timeline
- 30 September 2025
Summoned
The Colombo High Court, under Judge Rashantha Godawela, issued a warrant to have Sampath produced in connection with the 2009 Narahenpita robbery indictment, since he was already in custody in the separate Middeniya investigation, and requested a report on his remand status.
Court: High Court of Colombo
Sources (2)