'Chuti Malli', who murdered Mangala's secretary's brother-in-law, caught in Dubai

Rasika Chanditha Kumara alias "Chuti Malli", an underworld member reported to have been arrested in Dubai, is the main suspect in the shooting incident that occurred on July 3rd in the Kandana area, seriously injuring Mr. Sameera Manahara, the private secretary of former minister Mangala Samaraweera, and killing his brother-in-law, Mr. Upali Kulawardhana.

Further information from Dubai reveals that he was arrested by Dubai authorities at Dubai Airport while attempting to flee to a European country using a fake passport. He had been in hiding and attempted this escape.

Meanwhile, a senior police officer involved in anti-underworld operations stated that information has been received that Chuti Malli has been involved in drug trafficking, maintaining close ties with a drug trafficker named "Kondaya".

Previously, in January 2019, in the Piliyandala area, he was arrested along with four others with a foreign-made pistol, a stock of live ammunition, and two foreign hand grenades. The senior police officer further stated that the relevant case is currently being heard in court.

It is also reported that several other criminal cases against him are currently being heard in court. Two individuals on a motorcycle carried out this shooting attack on the car carrying Mr. Sameera Manahara and his brother-in-law, Mr. Upali Kulawardhana, as they were returning home after visiting a gymnasium in the Kandana area. A woman who was traveling on the road was also injured in the incident and received treatment at Ragama Hospital.