Warrant Out, Wallet Frozen: The Case of the Vanishing Cow Cop in Polonnaruwa
The Polonnaruwa Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday ordered the freezing of all assets belonging to the former Officer-in-Charge of the Welikanda Police, who is wanted in connection with a cattle smuggling case and is evading arrest.
The suspect, Inspector R.M. Rathnayake, was issued an arrest warrant on March 11 but has not been located. He is currently attached to the Pujapitiya Police and has reported sick leave and left the area, according to the Anuradhapura Division Criminal Investigation Unit.
On September 23, 2024, 20 dairy cows transported without valid permits were seized and brought before the Polonnaruwa court by Rathnayake, who was then serving as Welikanda OIC. The court directed that the animals be transferred to a state-owned livestock farm. However, a later anonymous complaint alleged the cows had been returned to the smugglers on Rathnayake’s orders.The Inspector General of Police assigned the Criminal Investigation Unit in Anuradhapura to investigate the allegations. Two individuals have since been arrested and produced in court, but Rathnayake remains at large.
During proceedings on March 25, the suspect failed to appear in court. Magistrate Anwar Sadak invoked Section 60(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code, ordering that all of Rathnayake’s movable and immovable assets be seized and placed under court custody. The Central Bank Governor was instructed to freeze all local and foreign bank accounts held by the suspect.A travel ban has also been imposed, and Rathnayake has been ordered to appear before the court by April 29.
