45 Sri Lankan organised criminals still at large overseas

Colombo, July 13 (Daily Mirror) - As many as 45 Sri Lankan criminals –red noticed by Interpol are stationed overseas - mostly in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) - and carry organised criminal activities in Sri Lanka, a top police source said.   

The government has initiated action to trap and bring them here for prosecution in terms of the Extradition Treaties signed with these countries. The source the UAE, as a country, is extending cooperation in tracking them.  
 
In recent investigations into the shooting incident in  Athurugiriya, it has been revealed that notorious criminal Kanjipani  Imran masterminded the attack with the assistance of other criminals identified as Loku Patty and Gonakovile Shantha who are hiding in Dubai.  

It has been reported that several wanted criminals and drug traffickers, who initially sought refuge in Dubai to evade capture while continuing their illegal activities in Sri Lanka, have now relocated to other countries.  

Kanjipani Imran, who fled the country after being bailed out from a court case, is plotting criminal activities in Sri Lanka.  

Recently, Sri Lankan authorities, in collaboration with  Dubai authorities, arrested some Sri Lankan criminals based on Red  Notices and subsequently extradited them to Sri Lanka. Besides, five criminals have been arrested in Sri Lanka.   

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) repatriated two wanted underworld figures allegedly involved in multiple murders and other illegal activities in Sri Lanka from Dubai.  

The suspects, 48-year-old Dinesh Samantha de Silva alias  “Babi” from Nugegoda and 26-year-old Kankanamlage Dimuthu Chaturanga  Perera alias “Samitpura Chathu” from Samitpura, Mattakkuliya, were brought back to Sri Lanka at the Bandaranaike International Airport  (BIA) in Katunayake.  A team of four senior police officers from the CID escorted them back from Dubai.  

Police said that ‘Samitpura Chathu’ will be handed over to the Colombo Crime Division (CCD), while ‘Babi’ will be transferred to the Homicide and Organised Crime Investigation Division.  

On February 15, 2024, Hapuarachchige Don Piyum Hastika alias “Piyuma,” identified as a primary accomplice of notorious drug trafficker Salindu Malshika alias “Kudu Salindu,” was arrested in Dubai and subsequently extradited to Sri Lanka.  

In May of this year, notorious underworld figure and drug trafficker Ruwan Jayasekara alias “Midigama Ruwan,” as well as notorious criminal Ramesh Mihiranga alias “Manna Ramesh,” were arrested by Dubai  Police and extradited to Sri Lanka. “Midigama Ruwan” was arrested based on an Interpol warrant.