By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya   

Police Special Task Force (STF) arrested an organized criminal known as ‘Thakkali Chaminda’, an accomplice of underworld criminal ‘Angoda Lokka’, during a raid in Wellawatta on Wednesday.   

The STF said the suspect, D. Chaminda Sisira Kumara was arrested on possession of 21 grammes of Kerala Cannabis during a raid at Duplication Road in Wellawatta.   

Investigation revealed that the arrested suspect was in remanded custody at least for 18 years and was released on bail in 2016. Sources said that the suspect had been acting as an extortionist for Angoda Lokka.   

During questioning, it was revealed that an underworld gangster known ‘Sasanka’ who is also an accomplice of Angoda Lokka had used ‘Chaminda’s mobile phone to contact an individual who is working at an earth supply business in Pamankada, which belongs to former Chairman of the Kotikawatta-Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha Prasanna Solangaarachchi to collect extortion money.   

The source said that ‘Sasanka’ had then telephoned Angoda Lokka and reportedly informed that the individual they called had refused to give money.  

The investigation revealed that Angoda Lokka reportedly sent another of his accomplice known as ‘Orj’ to Pamankada and threatened Prasanna Solangaarachchi’s workers.   
The arrested suspect (Chaminda) was handed over to the Wellawatta Police.     

He was arrested on possession of 21 grammes of Kerala Cannabis during a raid at Duplication Road in Wellawatta