Five Underworld Members Handed Over to CID

The suspects were escorted under tight security from the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake and handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

The arrests were the result of a joint operation between the Sri Lanka Police and the Indonesian Metropolitan Police, marking the first time Sri Lankan police officers have conducted such an overseas mission to apprehend and repatriate underworld figures.

The arrested suspects are identified as:

Mandinu Padmasiri Perera alias Kehelbaddara Padme

Komando Salinda alias Salinda

Bako Saman alias Nirmala Prasanga

Panadura Nilangaa alias Nilanga Perera

Tembili Lahiru alias Edirisinghe Kankananmage Lahiru Madhushan

They were tracked down and arrested in Jakarta following a covert operation directed by senior officers of the Peliyagoda Crimes Division and the CID.

Authorities state that this unprecedented operation highlights a new level of international collaboration in tackling organized crime linked to Sri Lanka.