An individual suspected of serving as the gunman for detained organized crime figure “Kehelbaddara Padme” has been arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).
The suspect, identified as Bombuwala Devage Suranga Sanjeewa Karunaratne, alias “Matiya,” was taken into custody by officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on last night (25), following his arrival in Sri Lanka after being deported from Malaysia.
He had reportedly been arrested by Malaysian authorities while residing there before being handed over for deportation.
Following the recording of a statement from the suspect, CID officers transferred him to the Western Province North Crime Division for further investigations, said Ada Derana reporter.
The suspect, aged between 41 and 42 years and a resident of the Yagodamulla area in Kotugoda, was also the subject of an international Red Notice.
Police allege that the suspect was involved in the shooting and killing of organized criminal figure “Pas Podda” and several others, as well as injuring a number of individuals, in the vicinity of the Gampaha Court premises in July 2022.
Further investigations are expected to proceed after police obtain a 72-hour detention order for the suspect.
