‘Talwatte Kelum’ arrested with US-made revolver

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya  

Hardcore criminal Kelum Udaya Kumara alias ‘Talwatte Kelum’, a close relative of notorious drug trafficker Wellambage Upul Sanjeewa Perera alias ‘Datha Sudu’, has been arrested by the STF with a special type of revolver made in the USA.  

The STF said that the 39-year old suspect was arrested by a team of officers led by Nadika Silva- OIC of the STF Intelligence Division, acting on a tip- off at Batuwatta, Ragama.  

The suspect was handed over to the Ragama Police for further investigations.  

According to the police, he was arrested on many previous occasions including for the murder of ‘Thadwatte Patta’ who was hacked to death at Nawala in Kelaniya in 2013.  

The case  was being heard in the Gampaha High Court.  

He was also nabbed for possessing 28 grams of heroin by the Peliyagoda Special Investigation Division on May 28, 2020 and was released on bail on December 25.