The Attorney General has notified the Colombo High Court that an appeal will be filed against the recent judgment which held that charges cannot be maintained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) against underworld figure Nadun Chinthaka Wickramaratne alias ‘Harak Kata’ and four others accused of conspiring to escape while in CID custody.

The case was taken up today before High Court Judge Buddhika C. Ragala, where state counsel appearing for the Attorney General made the announcement.

The suspects’ bail application was also considered, with the judge ordering that a ruling on bail will be delivered on August 20.

Meanwhile, since the PTA charges have been withdrawn, the court directed that Harak Kata, currently held at Tangalle Old Prison under remand custody, be transferred to a suitable prison facility. (Newswire)

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Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama today ordered former minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe’s son, Rakitha Rajapakshe, former Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Horana organizer Charith Abeysinghe, and former Airport and Aviation Services director Aruna Sri Chathuranga to be further remanded until July 28.

The trio was arrested on June 25 over allegations of soliciting and receiving Rs. 120 million in bribes from the wife of underworld figure ‘Harak Kata’.

The Magistrate said bail applications would be considered on that date on July 28. (Newswire)

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The family of Nadun Chinthaka Wickramaratne, better known by his underworld alias “Harak Kata,” has alleged that he is being unjustly detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) to prevent him from exposing bribery claims involving senior police officers and politicians.

In a complaint to the Committee on Enforced Disappearances in Geneva, Wickramaratne’s father, Nelson Mervin Wickramaratne, said his son has been held for more than 30 months under successive detention orders despite no weapons, drugs, or serious criminal charges being filed against him. The only cases raised so far relate to an alleged attempted escape from custody.

According to the letter, Harak Kata has claimed that while in the custody of the Counter Terrorism Investigation Division (CTID), he was pressured over large-scale bribes and has knowledge of payments sought by high-ranking police officials and politicians. He fears that speaking out could lead to retaliation, including further restrictions on his limited detention privileges.

As an example, he cited that his daily time outside his cell was reduced from six hours to three hours after he made a controversial statement about refusing to pay a Rs. 30 million bribe allegedly demanded by former Minister Tiran Alles and a former Inspector General of Police who has since been removed from office.

The family also alleges that his detention conditions are designed to break his silence, including isolation, poor food quality, lack of access to his wife and child, and medical neglect. He previously contracted chikungunya while in detention, which his family claims was linked to unsanitary conditions around his cell.

The complaint urges the United Nations body to press the Sri Lankan government to address what it describes as arbitrary and politically motivated detention.

Sri Lankan authorities have not yet responded publicly to the latest allegations. (Newswire)

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The Colombo High Court has been informed that an order has been issued to detain underworld figure ‘Harak Kata’ until the conclusion of the case against him for attempting to escape from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). 

The Attorney General today informed the Colombo High Court that the Secretary of Defence has issued an extension of the detention order against Harak Kata. 

The court was informed that the Secretary of the Ministry of Defence has decided to extend Harak Kata’s detention under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), due to security concerns. 

It is reported that ‘Harak Kata’ was presented before the court via Zoom, and the case has been postponed to September 24 for further proceedings.

‘Harak Kata’ was arrested in Madagascar on March 01, 2023, in a joint operation by the INTERPOL and Malagasy law enforcement authorities and Customs officials. 

He was brought back to Sri Lanka on March 08, 2023, and while in custody, he attempted a failed escape bid at the CID premises in September 2023, with the help of several police officers. (Newswire)

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The legal notice, sent via Attorney-at-Law Udul Premaratne, accuses the outlets of publishing unverified claims that Madhuwanthi and her child were arrested by Malaysian police alongside notorious underworld figures, including “Kehelbaddara Padme”.

Premaratne stated that the news item — published on websites, YouTube channels, and news bulletins — falsely claimed that Madhuwanthi was in police custody in Malaysia without any basis or legal warrant. He emphasized that she remains at her residence with her child and has not been arrested or questioned by any law enforcement agency.

The letter states that the report has caused serious mental distress to Madhuwanthi and her child, while also severely damaging her personal reputation.

She has called on the outlets to immediately retract the false news item and publish a correction. If they fail to comply, she has instructed legal counsel to initiate legal proceedings demanding Rs. 500 million in compensation for reputational damage. (Newswire)

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The Colombo High Court today (09 June) ordered the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) to facilitate the Bribery Commission to obtain a statement from notorious underworld figure Nadun Chithaka Wickremeratne, alias Harak Kata, who is currently detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).

The order was issued when a case related to Harak Kata was called before Colombo High Court Judge Sujeewa Nissanka today.

During the hearing, State Counsel Sajith Bandara informed the court that a request had been made to record a statement from Harak Kata, in connection with an investigation being conducted by the Bribery Commission.

Accordingly, the State Counsel requested the court to issue an order to facilitate the Bribery Commission officers to record a statement from the accused.

Accepting the request, the Judge ordered the TID to facilitate Bribery Commission officials to record a statement from Harak Kata. (Newswire)

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Notorious underworld figure Nadun Chithaka Wickremeratne, alias Harak Kata, has alleged that he continues to be detained in Tangalle because he refused to pay Rs. 300 million demanded by former Public Security Minister Tiran Alles and suspended IGP Deshabandu Tennakoon.

Harak Kata made the claim while being escorted by police from the Colombo Court Complex after a hearing today. “There are so many things to say. I will reveal them then,” he told reporters before being taken back to prison.

He further claimed that his ongoing detention in Tangalle costs Rs. 10 million per month.

In March 2023, Harak Kata and Salindu Malshika alias Kudu Salindu were extradited to Sri Lanka from Madagascar by a CID team. He has since been held at the Tangalle Old Prison under the custody of the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID). (Newswire)

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Two suspects linked to notorious drug trafficker, ‘Harak Kata’ have been nabbed in Piliyandala while in possession of ‘ICE’ and heroin valued at over Rs. 285 million.

The suspects, 41-year-old Omalpage Dhammika Saman Kumara and 53-year-old Kankanam Arachchige Sujeewa, are key figures connected to notorious drug and organized crime networks of “Harak Kata” and “Armi Chuti”.

Based on information provided by Army intelligence, officers from the Police Special Task Force (STF) conducted a joint operation in Piliyandala, leading to their arrest. 

During the raid, the suspects were found to be in possession of 7.415 kg of heroin and 1.017 kg of ICE. The Police had also seized a motorcycle and a lorry from the suspects’ possession.

The Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) is conducting further investigations into the case. (Newswire)

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An individual who had sought a ransom of Rs. 1 million from a Colombo businessman has been arrested by the Police Homicide and Organized Crime Investigation Division.

It has been reported that the suspect had sought ransom claiming that he was an associate of notorious criminal figure and drug dealer Nadun Chinthaka Wickremeratne alias ‘Harak Kata’.

The suspect had introduced himself as ‘Bentota Gihan’ to the businessman, the owner of a prominent clothing store in Colombo and a resident of Havelock Town in Colombo.

The Police stated that the suspect had allegedly threatened to murder the businessman’s son if he failed to provide the ransom as requested.

Investigations have revealed that the businessman had previously paid Rs. 100,000 on three separate occasions.

Due to the continuous threats, the businessman filed a complaint with the Police Homicide and Organized Crime Investigation Division.

The Police arrested the suspect and produced him before the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court after which he was remanded until August 17, 2023.

Investigations have been launched to ascertain if the suspect, a Dehiwala resident, has any connections to the notorious ‘Harak Kata’. (NewsWire)

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Notorious drug dealers Nadun Chinthaka alias ‘Harak Kata’ and Salindu Malshika alias ‘Kudu Salindu’ were brought to Sri Lanka from Madagascar this morning.

The two wanted criminals, who were to be brought to Sri Lanka by a team from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) yesterday, were brought in today due to a delay in their flight. 

A group, including ‘Harak Kata’ and ‘Kudu Salindu’, were arrested by security officials in Madagascar on 1st March 2023 based on an international Red Notice obtained by Sri Lankan law enforcement authorities.

The CID team that had departed for Madagascar on Saturday had escorted the two wanted criminals to Nairobi, Kenya due to no direct flights to Sri Lanka.

The two criminals had then been escorted to Mumbai, India early this morning. However, they had reached Sri Lanka following a delay in their flight today. 

Upon their arrival, ‘Harak Kata’ and ‘Kudu Salindu’ were taken directly to the Criminal Investigations Department for probes into various organized crimes committed by them in Sri Lanka. (NewsWire)

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