By Shamindra Ferdinando

Police have restored security to YouTuber Chamuditha Samarawickrama after he brought to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s notice what he called an imminent threat to his life from the underworld.

Samarawickrema has alleged that Dubai-based Battuwatte Chamara was planning to kill him. The Hiru anchor told The Island he phoned President Dissanayake on Feb 19, the day after the killing of Aruna Vidanagamage alias Meegasare Kajja.

The JVP-led National People’s Power (NPP) government removed security provided to Samarawickrema following an attack on his home at Wewala, Piliyandala, on Feb 14, 2022.

Samarawickrema said that gangster Aruna Vidanagamnage was the third person killed after appearing on

‘Truth with Chamuditha’ while Ayurvedic Doctor Senaka Gamage died under mysterious circumstances. Leader of Ape Jana Bala Pakshaye Saman Perera was killed along with four others in Tangalle in January 2024. Public Health Inspector (PHI) for Karandeniya Roshan Kumara Vithanage was killed in the following month.

Saman Perera was killed near the Southern Expressway exit point at Beliatta, Tangalle.  Roshan Kumara Vithanage was gunned down at his Elpitiya home.

A senior police official yesterday (09) said that they intended to record a statement from journalist Gayan Gallage as he alerted Samarawickrema to the alleged underworld threat. Declaring that adequate security had been provided to the complainant, the official said that they are proceeding with an investigation. According to him, Samarawickrema lodged a complaint in this regard with the Piliyandala police.

Samarawickrema, one-time media head of President Maithripala Sirisena said that he received a voice message on his whatsapp number from Surendra Wasantha Perera alias Club Wasantha minutes before he was shot dead in early July 2024 in Athurugiriya. Responding to another query, Samarawickrema said that he also talked to IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya regarding threats on his life.

Ex-Air Force officer Keerthi Ratnayake, who had appeared on ‘Truth with Chamuditha’ on numerous occasions told The Island that he earned the wrath of what he called politically influential underworld for exposing their sordid operations.

Ratnayake said that a thorough investigation was needed to identify the perpetrators of organized crime. According to Ratnayake, Batuwatte Chamara may have reacted angrily over certain remarks made by a woman who appeared on ‘Truth with Chamuditha.’