News
Wanted man extradited from India
By Norman Palihawadane
A drug trafficker and wanted criminal, along with his wife, had been brought back to Sri Lanka after being apprehended while hiding in India, police said.
The couple arrived in Sri Lanka in the early hours of Sunday (16), and were immediately taken into custody at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake by officers from the CID.
Prime suspect, Pushparaj Wigneswaram, 30, had been on the run after committing several crimes including shootings, possession of firearms, and multiple drug-related offences. Wigneswaram had been arrested abroad and was extradited to Sri Lanka at the request of Sri Lankan authorities.
Wigneswaram faces several charges, including possession of cannabis in the Kotahena Police Division in 2017, keeping a locally-manufactured firearm in 2018, and trying to shoot someone in the Coastal Police Division in 2022.
He has also been previously arrested for illegal gambling.
Along with him, his 25-year-old wife was also taken into custody. Both suspects are scheduled to be produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court.