Suspect a member of Harak Kata’s gang’ – police

By Shamindra Ferdinando

A 31-year-old person recently arrested with 06 g and 400 mg of heroin has admitted that he joined an underworld organisation after leaving the army/The leader of this group is believed to be Dubai-based criminal, Wickremaratne Nadun Chinthaka alias Herath Dissanayakage Roshan Issanka better known as Harak Kata.

The Colombo Crime Division (CCD) arrested the resident of Sedawatta, Wellampitiya on 21 Oct. and obtained permission from a Magistrate to detain him till 28 Oct., pending further investigations.Investigations have revealed that the suspect had used a passport obtained under a different name to visit Dubai in March this year, a senior police headquarters official said. The official said that there was no doubt the ex-soldier visited Dubai with the knowledge of his leader. The ex-soldier has returned on Oct 11.

According to information elicited from the suspect, he had been tasked to collect money from those who owed the organisation and was widely believed to be one of its trusted men. Following his arrest investigators on Oct 26 recovered a hand grenade and a locally made pistol hidden near new Kelani Bridge in the Sedawatta area and the recovered weapons were to be produced before the Maligakanda Magistrate court yesterday.

Sources said that the government hadn’t been so far successful in convincing Dubai administration to hand over Wickremaratne Nadun Chinthaka wanted here in connection with ongoing investigations into narcotics trade and a spate of killings.Authorities here are perturbed as to how so many of our desperados have found refuge in Dubai unless there is some patronage there for those in the drug trade. Some of those who have found ready refuge there are said to be so illiterate that it is a wonder how they could even fill out a visa application form in English.

Recent criticism regarding the poor handling of the case and a botched bid to have the suspect extradited prompted the Defence Ministry to categorically deny the serious accusations.Colonel Nalin Herath said that Sri Lanka Interpol established under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was told by the United Arab Emirates of the arrest of the suspect on Aug 19 this year. According to the military official who addressed the media on behalf of the Defence Ministry, the UAE arrested the suspect consequent to a red notice issued by Sri Lanka Interpol.

Colonel Herath said that the CID in a letter dated Sept 12 requested the Defence Ministry to facilitate the extradition of the suspect. Having consulted Defence Secretary Gen. Kamal Gunaratne, the Defence Ministry on the following day submitted the relevant documents to the Foreign Ministry for further action, the official said.

The Foreign Ministry has sought the Attorney General’s advice in this regard on Sept. 14. Having received the Attorney General’s advice on Sept 26, the Foreign Ministry instructed the Sri Lankan diplomatic mission in UAE on Sept 03 to make representations to relevant authorities not to release the suspect, Colonel Herath said.

The official emphasised that as the Defence Ministry responded to the request made by the CID within 24 hours there couldn’t be any lapses on its part.The Defence Ministry issued the statement on Oct 07, four days after Dubai authorities released the suspect.Authoritative sources yesterday (27) said that the suspect though being ‘released’ was in Dubai. “We believe he is under surveillance and likely to remain there,” the official said.