CHARLOTTE MAY LEE MOVES TO ANOTHER SRI LANKAN PRISON

Charlotte May Lee, a former air hostess from Surrey, has been moved from Negombo Prison to Kuliyappitiya jail in Sri Lanka, according to a person familiar with her detention. The transfer followed clashes at Negombo earlier this year. The account says the clashes killed at least 20 inmates and 10 prison officers. People had raised concerns for Lee’s safety while she remained at Negombo. The person said Lee had survived the clashes and was “coping well” at Kuliyappitiya.

Authorities arrested Lee at Colombo Airport in May 2025 over allegations that she tried to bring synthetic cannabis into Sri Lanka. They allegedly found 46kg of the drug, known as kush, in her luggage. The account says someone had packed it in large, vacuum-sealed bags and put its reported value at £1.2 million. Lee had travelled from Bangkok, Thailand, before her arrest. She says she had “no idea” the drugs were in her luggage and claims someone planted them during her journey.

Lee has spent nearly 18 months in custody, according to the person familiar with her detention. The person said Lee had learnt the local language to communicate with other prisoners after facing a language barrier. “Charlotte was traumatised by the riots, a lot of people lost their lives,” the person said. The person added: “She is desperate to get home, but she knows there’s nothing she can do.”