29/04/2026
Sri Lankan authorities have arrested 22 Buddhist monks after more than 110kg of cannabis was discovered hidden in their luggage at Colombo’s main international airport.
The monks, mostly trainees, were returning from a trip to Thailand when officials uncovered the drugs concealed in false compartments, marking one of the largest drug busts at the airport.
Each suspect was reportedly carrying around 5kg, and investigations suggest the trip may have been organized under the guise of transporting “donations.”
The incident has shocked the country, with religious leaders emphasizing that such actions do not reflect the wider Buddhist community.