SLPP Ex-Councillor, Brother Linked to Massive Ice Chemical Haul in Middeniya

The sleepy village of Middeniya has just been thrust into the spotlight with one of Sri Lanka’s most jaw-dropping drug busts in recent memory. Police uncovered nearly 50,000 kilograms of chemicals stashed away in a property in Thalawa, chemicals capable of churning out an estimated 200 kilos of crystal meth (ice) worth over Rs. 2 billion on the street.

Behind the curtain of this rural drama is a cast that reads like a crime novel: an underworld operator with a colourful name, a pair of politically connected brothers, and some mysterious foreign “consultants” allegedly flown in to handle the chemistry.

Padme’s Chemical Dreams

According to investigators, the mastermind is none other than Kehelbaddara Padme, a man already whispered about in Colombo’s underworld grapevine. Police say Padme had earlier rented a house in Nuwara Eliya — not for the mountain views, but to quietly manufacture ice with the help of two Pakistani nationals. Think less “hill station retreat,” more “breaking bad in the hills.”

The Brothers Manampeiri

But the real gossip centres on Sampath and Piyal Manampeiri, two brothers with deep roots in Angunukolapelessa. Piyal isn’t just any villager — he’s a former SLPP Pradeshiya Sabha member. That political link is what makes tongues wag in Colombo: when politics, power, and powder mix, the cocktail is always explosive.

Police believe it was the Manampeiri brothers who shifted the stock to Middeniya in a boom truck once word spread that police were sniffing around. It wasn’t a smooth getaway — more like a desperate midnight move. Locals swear the brothers vanished overnight, leaving behind unanswered questions and a trail of village gossip thicker than the monsoon clouds.

Bako Saman Sings

Enter Bako Saman, the underworld figure whose interrogation cracked the case open. Known as a mid-level player with high-level connections, Bako apparently spilled just enough beans to lead officers to the chemical stash. The irony is delicious: one gangster’s downfall becomes another gangster’s headline.

Rs. 2 Billion and Counting

The figures are staggering. Police estimate that the seized chemicals could have produced 200 kilograms of ice with a street value topping Rs. 2 billion. For context, that’s more than the annual budget of some provincial councils. No wonder the whispers in Colombo’s tea shops are saying: “Forget politics — the real money is in ice.”

Gossip in Colombo

The chatter now is whether this is just the tip of the iceberg. With Pakistani nationals, a fugitive Padme, and a runaway SLPP ex-councillor in the mix, the case is shaping up as a political thriller. Is Sri Lanka being slowly drafted into the Golden Triangle’s meth trade? Who in Colombo’s power corridors looked the other way as the chemicals flowed in? And most importantly, will anyone high-up actually face charges?

The Vanishing Act

For now, police are on the hunt for the Manampeiri brothers, who seem to have perfected the art of the disappearing act. Villagers claim their house is locked tight, with only the gossip of neighbours left behind.

“It’s like they knew exactly when to disappear,” one local farmer muttered. “Almost like someone tipped them off.”

The Cold Reality

As investigations continue, one thing is clear: this is not a small-time operation. The Middeniya bust has all the hallmarks of an industrial-scale racket with political cover, international links, and big money. The gossip mills are running overtime, but the real question is whether the law will run fast enough to catch up.

Because when Sri Lanka’s underworld gets iced up, the fallout isn’t just local — it’s regional, political, and deeply personal.