Suranga Sanjeewa Karunaratne alias “Matiya”, suspected of acting as the gunman for organized crime figure ‘Kehelbaddara Padme’, was arrested last night at Katunayake International Airport.

Police said the suspect, a resident of Kotugoda, Yagodamulla, was detained by Malaysian security forces and deported to Sri Lanka, where officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) took him into custody upon arrival.

Authorities noted that an international red notice had been issued against him. 

He faces charges over the July 2022 shooting near the Gampaha Court premises, in which organized criminal “Paspodda” was killed and several others injured.

Following initial questioning, the suspect was handed over to the Western Province North Crimes Division for further investigations. Police confirmed that a 72‑hour detention order has been obtained to continue inquiries. (Newswire)

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SLPP National Organiser and Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa arrived at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) a short while ago in response to a summons over alleged links to underworld figure “Kehelbaddara Padme.”

Kehelbaddara Padme, a wanted criminal, was arrested in Indonesia and brought to Sri Lanka in August 2025 as part of a major operation by Sri Lanka Police.

Since his return, several of his associates have been arrested, and Police have attributed multiple narcotics busts to intelligence obtained during his interrogation.

The CID recently questioned former Minister Prasanna Ranatunga as part of the same investigation.

According to officials, Ranatunga was extensively questioned about his alleged ties to Padme, based on a statement the suspect made while in custody. (Newswire)

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The Criminal Investigation Department has recovered a foreign-manufactured pistol and a large cache of ammunition following information obtained from a detained organized crime suspect, ‘Kehelbaddara Padme’, police said.

‘Kehelbaddara Padme’, who was brought to Sri Lanka from Indonesia, is currently being held under a detention order for further investigations.

During questioning by officers of the CID’s Commercial Crimes Investigation Division, the suspect revealed that a firearm and other property belonging to him had been concealed in Sri Lanka by another organized criminal currently overseas.

Acting on the information, CID officers, with assistance from the Special Task Force Kelaniya Camp, searched a temporary structure located on an access road between Ederamulla and the Colombo–Kandy main road.

Police recovered a foreign-made pistol, two T-56 ammunition magazines and 267 rounds of T-56 live ammunition. Further investigations are ongoing. (Newswire)

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Actress Gayathri Dias has refuted social media claims linking her to the recently arrested underworld leader ‘Kehelbaddara Padme’.

In a statement shared online, Dias dismissed the allegations as false and hurtful, saying she has no connection to any criminal figures.

Sharing an emotional message, she wrote, “The only fault I did was being an artist,” adding that she continues to face pain and judgment despite doing no wrong.

Her remarks follow viral social media posts claiming links between her and Padme, who was arrested last month in Indonesia and brought back to Sri Lanka. (Newswire)

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Actress and entrepreneur Piumi Hansamali has rejected claims that she had any connection with the recently arrested underworld figure known as “Kehelbaddara Padme.”

Media reports earlier today said that Hansamali had been questioned by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) regarding her alleged links to Padme.

In a Facebook post, she clarified that she had only met Kehelbaddara Padme once in March 2022 during a New Year celebration in Dubai, and that the meeting was casual.

“I first saw this person at that event with his wife and children. They took a photo with me. He also said that he wanted to become fair and more attractive, so I told him to use my Piumi Skin products,” she wrote. Hansamali said that Padme must have used her products, as he now looks very attractive. 

Hansamali insisted that she has never been involved in any financial dealings with Padme.

“The CID asked if I had any monetary transactions with him — never ever! I have no need for drug money, illegal money, or any black money. I’m an independent woman who built my business, Piumi Skin Private Limited,” she said.

She added humorously that she has no connection to the underworld, saying, “I’m scared of those things — I don’t want to die of a gunshot in vain.”

She reiterated that anyone can use her skincare products “to become fair and beautiful”. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Police has seized properties valued at over Rs. 50 million, reportedly belonging to underworld figure ‘Kehelbaddara Padme’.

It is reported that the properties were taken into custody by the Illegal Assets Investigation Division.

The seized property is a 29 perches of land with a building under construction. (Newswire)

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A stock of chemical substances believed to be used in the production of crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as ICE, allegedly linked to underworld figure Kehelbaddara Padme, was discovered in the Middeniya area.

According to reports, the chemical substances were found following a raid that was carried out based on information revealed by underworld figure Backhoe Saman.

The operation was conducted by the Special Task Force, and the stock of chemicals used in the production of ICE was found in the Middeniya area today.

The Criminal Investigation Department inspected a house in the Thalawa area in Middeniya, following a tip-off that narcotics were being concealed there.

Police state that the owner of the house, who had maintained connections with Backhoe Saman, has fled the residence and is currently in hiding.

It has also come to light that a local council member was allegedly involved in storing the stock of chemical substances. 

Kehelbaddara Padme and Backhoe Saman are among the wanted suspects who were arrested in Indonesia recently and brought back to Sri Lanka. (Newswire)

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Investigations have found a factory producing Crystal Methamphetamine (ICE) in Nuwara Eliya, Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala said. 

Minister Wijepala said that underworld figure Mandinu Padmasiri, alias ‘Kehelbaddara Padme’, had invested over Rs. 04 million in the factory.

He further said that a house in Nuwara Eliya had been rented to operate the drug factory and that over 2000 kilos of chemicals had been brought into the country for this purpose. 

“They have produced ICE in Sri Lanka. This is a serious issue. The ongoing investigations are revealing more information. We will have to conduct more in-depth investigations into the matter,” Minister Wijepala said.

The minister also said that information has come to light of political affiliations, connections with Police officers, and links with officials from the Department of Immigration and Emigration to obtain forged passports, maintained by these underworld figures.

He said further in-depth investigations have been launched to confirm these details. 

Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala revealed the details while speaking during a televised interview with state media, ITN. (Newswire)

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An Assistant Controller of the Department of Immigration and Emigration has been arrested on charges of having issued three fake passports to underworld kingpin Mandinu Padmasiri alias ‘Kehelbaddara Padme’.

Police Spokesman SSP Buddhika Manatunga said the Immigration Department official was arrested by officers from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) today.

He further said he is accused of having provided the passports to ‘Kehelbaddara Padme’, who is accused of the murder of druglord Ganemulla Sanjeewa at a courthouse in Colombo in February this year.  

The Police Spokesman added that the arrest was made after it was revealed during an investigation into two suspects who were previously arrested on charges of forging passports for ‘Kehelbaddara Padme’, who is currently in Dubai. (Newswire)

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The shooting targeting a 26-year-old man in Weliweriya last night is suspected to be retaliation over a dispute between underworld gangs, the Police said. 

According to the Police, the injured youth has no criminal records, but is identified as a close associate of the notorious underworld figure, “Kehelbaddara Padme”.

The Police suspect the shooting may have taken place as a revenge attack over the recent murder of underworld kingpin ‘Ganemulla Sanjeewa’.

Preliminary investigations reveal the victim works as a driver for a rented vehicle, offering transportation for foreign tourists.

The victim had been informed by the vehicle owner to travel to Weliweriya to pick up a foreign tourist to be dropped off in Galle. 

The Police said the youth had been shot at by two unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle, while he was en route to the location. 

The victim, who had sustained injuries to his hand, had driven himself to the Gampaha Hospital, following the shooting. 

The Police are conducting further investigations into the incident. (Newswire)

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