'Podi Lassie', arrested in India, is being brought to the island.

'Podi Lassie' alias Arumahandi Janith Madusanka de Silva, a powerful organized criminal and large-scale drug trafficker, was brought to Sri Lanka today (27) in the early hours of the morning from Mumbai, India, under strict security. This suspect was brought to Katunayake International Airport around 5:55 AM by a special police team, including two officers from the Criminal Investigation Department, on a SriLankan Airlines flight UL 142.

He was a key suspect wanted by the police in connection with several crimes, including multiple homicides that occurred in the Meetiyagoda and Ambalangoda areas of the Southern Province. Although he was released on bail under strict conditions by the Balapitiya Magistrate's Court on December 09, 2024, he violated those conditions and fled to India by sea, where he had been hiding. Accordingly, acting on an open warrant issued by the Balapitiya Magistrate's Court, the Sri Lanka Police, as a result of direct information exchange and diplomatic intervention with Indian authorities, succeeded in arresting this suspect in Mumbai in January 2025.

This deportation was carried out using the mutual trust, extradition laws, and immigration laws existing between states, with the direct intervention of the Ministry of Public Security and the Inspector General of Police. The suspect is to be handed over to the Galle District Crime Division and the Elpitiya Special Investigation Unit for further investigations and legal proceedings, where he will be further questioned regarding his criminal and drug networks. Considering this situation, a special security program has now been implemented around the Elpitiya Police Station, where the suspect is being detained, stated Police Media Spokesperson, Assistant Superintendent of Police F. U. Wuttler.

As a special step in the 'Rata Ma Ekata - National Mission' program, launched with the aim of crippling drug demand and supply, a strong mechanism is currently in operation to bring back criminals who have evaded court and are hiding abroad. Through this state mechanism, 29 suspects have been brought back to the country via Interpol Red Notices in the years 2024, 2025, and 2026 alone, and including the suspect brought today, the number of suspects deported through violations of immigration laws in other countries without Red Notices is 14. Furthermore, Red Notices have been obtained for 89 organized criminals, and authorities emphasize that maximum effort will be made to swiftly bring them to justice within the year 2026.