(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – Two notorious underworld criminals in Sri Lanka’s drug trade, Nadun Chinthaka Wickramaratne alias “Harak Kata” and Salindu Malshitha Gunaratne alias “Kudu Salidu” and six others have been arrested by the security authorities in Madagascar on March 01.
According to a report published on Madagascar’s L’EXPRESS website on March 6, the suspects were arrested at Ivato International Airport in Madagascar.
It is said that among the arrested was a Malagasy woman who claims to be Harak Kata’s wife.
According to the L’EXPRESS report, 05 people, including Harak Kata, have arrived at the country’s Nosy Be International Airport on February 12 in a private jet. They had later travelled to Antananarivo airport on a domestic flight the following day.
According to media reports, they were arrested on the 1st when they were leaving Madagascar.
At the time of arrest, Harak Kata had posed as a rich businessman on a business trip. The rest of the group including Kudu Salindu had appeared as bodyguards of Harak Kata. They had stayed at two hotels in Ivato and Ambohimangakely.
Following their stay, the group was dropped off at the airport in two luxury cars.
According to the orders obtained from the Sri Lankan courts and police reports INTERPOL has issued red notices against underworld criminals including Harak Kata.
The Madagascar police officers had recognized the drug traffickers from the red notices issued by the INTERPOL and arrested them at the airport.
According to the INTERPOL red notice, the Madagascar police officers have clearly identified only Hark Kata and after questioning, Kudu Salindu who had posed as Harak Kata’s bodyguard has been identified.
At that time of the arrest, the authorities found more than 38 million in Madagascar local currency in the possession of the woman who claimed to be the wife of Harak Kata.
According to foreign media reports, Harak Kata distributes drugs in Dubai, Malaysia, Singapore, Seychelles, Maldives and Madagascar. It is stated in the media reports that Harak Kata and others will be deported to Sri Lanka.
It has been learned through unofficial sources that there are other people involved in the drug network among the other suspects.
