A Senior Assistant Secretary of the Presidential Secretariat has been arrested by the Central Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), police said.

The official, who had previously served as a former Deputy Controller of Immigration and Emigration, was arrested by the CCIB for allegedly preparing a forged passport for an organised criminal gang member to flee the country. 

The suspect was arrested this evening (26) for allegedly preparing a fake passport in the name of another person for an organised criminal to flee the country.

This is in connection with an investigation being conducted by the Homicide and Organized Crime Investigation Division of the Central Crime Investigation Bureau.

The suspect is a 41-year-old resident of Kandy who serves as a Senior Assistant Secretary to the Presidential Secretariat in the Parliament and Cabinet Division.

The investigation conducted so far has revealed that the suspect had committed this crime while previously serving as the Deputy Controller of the Foreign Missions Division of the Department of Immigration and Emigration.

The arrest was made as a result of an investigation and supervision by Senior DIG Ranmal Kodithuwakku, Central Crime Investigation Bureau DIG Chandana Kodithuwakku and CCIB Director Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kamal Ariyawansa.

The Central Crime Investigation Bureau is conducting further investigations into the incident.