Homagama High Court Judge Nimal Ranaweera issued an order today, instructing the return of vehicles believed to be associated with the notorious drug trafficker 'Welivita Sudda' to the Illegal Assets Investigation Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department.
The vehicles, valued at approximately Rs. 100 million, were initially slated to be returned to their owners by the Kaduwela Magistrate Court last week. These vehicles had been seized by the Illegal Assets Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department during Operation 'Yukthiya'.
However, Kaduwela Magistrate Mrs. Chanima Wijebandara's ruling on February 16th directed that a vehicle detained for nearly two months should be returned to its registered owner. Following this directive, the registered owners reclaimed their vehicles.
Nevertheless, the Illegal Assets Investigation Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department brought the matter to the Homagama High Court, asserting that the individuals claiming ownership, particularly H.M. Heenmanike, failed to provide the necessary documentation. Additionally, evidence was presented indicating that the vehicles were procured with unlawfully acquired funds.
In light of these circumstances, the High Court ruled that the vehicles in question, previously scheduled for return under the Kaduwela Magistrate Court's orders, should instead be handed back to the Illegal Assets Investigation Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department.
In December 2023, the Police seized five luxury buses, a modern car, and a motorcycle believed to belong to Welivita Sudda, subsequently transferring them to the Criminal Investigation Department's Illegal Assets Investigation Unit.
