Malaysia deports alleged underworld gunman to Sri Lanka

By T.K.G Kapila

Colombo, June 26 (Daily Mirror) - An alleged underworld gunman linked to organized crime figure Kehelbaddara Padme was deported from Malaysia and taken into custody by Sri Lankan authorities upon his arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake last night (25).

The suspect, identified as Bombuwala Devage Suranga Sanjeewa Karunaratne, alias "Matiya", 42, a resident of Yagodamulla, Kotugoda, had been the subject of an Interpol Red Notice.

According to airport sources, Karunaratne was deported from Kuala Lumpur on AirAsia flight AK-047, which arrived at Katunayake Airport at around 9.45 p.m. on June 25.

He was immediately arrested by officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and, after recording his statements, was transferred under heavy security to the Colombo North Crime Division in Peliyagoda for further investigations.

Karunaratne is wanted in connection with the fatal shooting inside the Gampaha Magistrate's Court premises on July 22, 2022, in which an organized criminal known as "Paspodda" and another individual were killed, while several others sustained injuries.