Manudinu Padmasiri Arrested in Malaysia Over Series of Murders

Among the crimes he is accused of, the most notable is the shooting of Sanjeewa Kumara Samararathna near the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court premises, a brazen act that brought renewed public and media attention to his criminal operations.

In addition to Perera, another key figure of the same criminal network, known as Commando Salintha, has also been taken into custody in Malaysia. Both individuals are alleged to be part of an organized criminal syndicate responsible for contract killings and underworld activities spanning several years.

Perera's vendetta reportedly began after the 2018 murder of his father, for which Sanjeewa Kumara Samararathna and Saman Rohitha Perera were suspected. He subsequently fled to Dubai, where he is believed to have orchestrated a series of retaliatory killings.

Sri Lankan authorities are currently in the process of coordinating with Malaysian counterparts for the extradition of the suspects to face justice on home soil.