Kaivaru Muthu, who was caught and deported in Sharjah, arrested in Katunayake

The hidden life of Manoj Muthukumara, also known as 'Kaiwaru Muthu', who aspired to be the king of the Kaduwela underworld after the death of Ranale Samayan, has come to an end. He was arrested in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, and subsequently deported to Sri Lanka today (November 06), where he was taken into custody by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake.

Manoj Muthukumara, also known as Dhanuka Amarasinghe, was a chief henchman of Aruna Udaya Shantha Pathirana alias 'Samayan', a powerful figure in the Kaduwela underworld who was shot dead inside a prison bus on February 27, 2017. Muthu, who attempted to fill the void in the power struggle that erupted in the Kaduwela underworld after Samayan's assassination, reportedly once stated, "None of Samayan's associates are left now. I will have to run the Kaduwela underworld."

Fleeing to Dubai in 2021 due to police threats, he began orchestrating crimes in Sri Lanka from there. Incidents reported against him include placing a wreath in front of a businessman's house in the Athurugiriya area to intimidate him for ransom, and threatening an air force soldier who visited his girlfriend in the early days.

The main assassination orchestrated by him from Dubai was the killing of 34-year-old Buddhika Prasad alias “Patta” in the Galabodawatta area of Korathota on January 10, 2024. Patta was also a henchman of Samayan, who later left the underworld and was running a small betel business. Kaiwaru Muthu had planned this assassination on a contract of LKR 500,000 to advance his name in the underworld and to settle a personal vendetta, including an assault on his father.

Patta was taken from his home by two individuals disguised as Police Special Task Force (STF) officers who arrived on a motorcycle, and was shot in the head near the Mahawela culvert in Korathota. His family members, suspecting foul play, followed and found his body, taking him to Athurugiriya Hospital and then to the National Hospital, where he later died. After the assassination, Muthu had arranged for the suspected shooter, Mabima Lokuwa alias Thilina Sampath, to be brought to Dubai, and a selfie photo of them was later received by the police. However, the motorcyclist involved in the murder was later arrested, and it was reported that accusations were made that "Kaiwaru Muthu broke his promise" regarding the non-payment of the promised money.

His hidden life in Dubai came to an end in August 2024. He was arrested by security forces in Sharjah on charges of possessing an expired passport and violating immigration laws. Following this, authorities in that country took steps to deport him to Sri Lanka today.

Meanwhile, as another step in operations against organized criminals, the 46-year-old sister of the criminal known as Alto Dharme was also arrested today by the Illegal Assets Investigation Division. Residing in Madapatha, Piliyandala, she was suspected of circulating drug money exceeding LKR 70 million and was to be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court.

Manoj Muthukumara alias Kaiwaru Muthu, who was taken into custody by the Criminal Investigation Department in Katunayake, is scheduled to be handed over to the Western Province South Crimes Division for further investigations. Having attempted to establish power in the Kaduwela underworld, he now faces answering to the law after finally being deported from Dubai to Sri Lanka.