Kahandagama caught with ice, "Not ours" - Sagar and Vasu both say no

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) states that Mahinda Kahandagama, the former Colombo Municipal Councillor arrested with 'ice' drug, was never a member of their party. Vasudeva Nanayakkara, the leader of the Nava Sama Samaja Party, which Kahandagama reportedly represented, also emphasizes that Kahandagama has no current connection with his party.

The Central Criminal Investigation Bureau arrested Kahandagama today (06) following an investigation based on information that he was involved in 'ice' drug trafficking. Police state that he was arrested near a restaurant in the Mirihana area. The court has currently granted permission to detain and question the suspect until the 12th. It is also reported that a lot of information has been revealed indicating that he maintained very close ties with organized drug traffickers.

After his arrest, many media reports introduced him as a former municipal councillor of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna. Rejecting these statements, SLPP General Secretary and former Member of Parliament Sagala Kariyawasam, addressing the media today (06), pointed out that the Podujana Peramuna had allied with leftist political parties in past elections, and Kahandagama contested the election as a member of Vasudeva Nanayakkara's Nava Sama Samaja Party. He also stated that Kahandagama was given nominations at the request of the Nava Sama Samaja Party.

"The person named Kahandagama was never a member of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna. However, in the last local government election, and also in the election before that, we allied with leftist political parties. On that occasion, he contested as a member of Vasudeva Nanayakkara's Nava Sama Samaja Party. The nominations were given at the request of the Nava Sama Samaja Party. Therefore, we strongly reject the notion that Mahinda Kahandagama is a member of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna," said Sagala Kariyawasam.

However, when questioned about this statement by the Podujana Peramuna, Vasudeva Nanayakkara presented a different picture. He stated that Kahandagama was associated with his party only during the period when the Nava Sama Samaja Party was allied with the Podujana Peramuna, and after his party withdrew from that alliance, Kahandagama continued to represent the Podujana Peramuna.

Vasudeva Nanayakkara further pointed out that Kahandagama was also with the Podujana Peramuna groups who went to assault activists during the Galle Face protests in 2022. After being assaulted by protestors during that incident on May 9, 2022, Kahandagama became a widely discussed figure across the country. At that time, he was also identified as a long-time supporter of Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Meanwhile, in July 2024, Kahandagama went to Sirikotha and joined the United National Party (UNP), expressing support for then-President Ranil Wickremesinghe. There, he was also given the position of Zonal Organizer for the UNP's Colombo Central electoral division. It has not yet been independently confirmed whether he is still a UNP member.

Watch the video with audio of parties held with Dubai underworld figures and selling 'ice' ›