Two individuals have been arrested in connection with forging foreign passports for an organized crime figure currently residing overseas, identified as Mandinu Padmasiri Perera, also known as “Kelehelbaddara Padme”.
According to the Criminal Investigation Department’s Unit for Commercial Crimes, Smuggling and Maritime Crimes, the suspects had submitted false information to the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration in order to obtain three fraudulent passports.
The suspects, aged 32 and 51, are residents of Maligawatta and Eheliyagoda and operate photo studios in Kohuwala and Battaramulla, police said.
Investigations revealed that they had obtained photos of Padme via WhatsApp, edited them, and submitted forged documents to the Immigration Department to produce the fake passports. Padme, who left the country in 2021 using a valid passport issued in 2014, is reported to have fraudulently obtained a new passport via the one-day service in 2024 while still abroad, after the original expired. Additionally, two more passports were allegedly issued under different names in 2025 using falsified photos and data.
The suspects were produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court on May 23 and were remanded until May 29. Further investigations are being carried out by the relevant unit of the CID. (Newswire)
