Karandeniya Sudda's murderous underworld brother Raju arrested in India

Sobana Handi Sanath de Silva, alias 'Raju', a powerful underworld member who was essential to the Sri Lanka Police, has been arrested in India by Indian security forces. Accused of over fifteen serious crimes, including murder, he is also the brother of Sobana Handi Jayalath de Silva, alias 'Karandeniya Sudda', a well-known criminal in the Southern Province.

A team of special officers representing the Criminal Investigation Department is scheduled to depart for India to bring the arrested suspect back to the country.

These two brothers are considered the main suspects in the wave of murders that disturbed the Southern Province recently, having started their criminal lives as contract killers. Although Karandeniya Sudda led the gang, Raju was the mastermind behind planning and directing all the murder contracts they received. Investigations have confirmed that he turned to organized crime gangs after serving in the Police Special Task Force and later the Army Special Forces and then leaving. The murder of the 'Good-hearted Doctor' and the killing of Police Inspector Balendrasinghe are among the main charges against Raju.

An Interpol Red Notice had also been issued to arrest this suspect, who is connected to numerous crimes. Police had revealed that he had fled to Dubai with his brother a few years ago using a fake passport. However, Sri Lankan intelligence agencies received a confidential tip-off that he had recently arrived in India from Dubai and was attempting to obtain a visa to flee to a European country from there. Acting immediately on this information, local security forces informed the Indian authorities, and subsequently, Indian security forces arrested him last Monday and officially informed Sri Lanka.

Coinciding with this series of events, a person who transported firearms belonging to Karandeniya Sudda's criminal network was also arrested today by the Galle District Crime Division. When this 26-year-old suspect, Nuwan Dhanushka, was arrested, a pistol-type firearm was taken into police custody from his possession. Preliminary police investigations have revealed that he transported weapons for several murder plots carried out in the South and was paid Rs. 25,000 for one instance.

Further investigations related to the suspect who transported these firearms are being conducted under the full supervision of Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Kithsiri Jayalath, who is in charge of the Southern Province. These investigations are being carried out by Assistant Superintendent of Police Namal Perera, Director of the Galle District Crime Division, under the direct guidance of Deputy Inspector General of Police A. Pushpakumara, who is in charge of the Galle District.