Under tight security, underworld figure Kehelbaddara Padme and his criminal group arrested in Jakarta have been flown back to Sri Lanka, with top police and security officials on site to oversee their arrival at Katunayake Airport.
The plane carrying Kehelbaddara Padme, a notorious member of a criminal gang arrested in Jakarta, Indonesia, has landed at Katunayake International Airport a short while ago. His group, arrested alongside him, was also brought back on the same flight.
The aircraft, which departed Jakarta at around 3.30 pm today (30) after a delay of several hours, touched down at Katunayake Airport at approximately 7.20 pm. According to reports, security inside and outside the airport was heightened to prevent any potential disturbances during the transfer.
Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala, Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasuriya, Police Media Spokesperson Woodler, and senior officers from the Police Special Task Force and the Criminal Investigation Department were present at the airport to personally monitor the operation.
The arrests of Kehelbaddara Padme and his associates were coordinated through international cooperation, with critical roles played by Assistant Superintendent of Police Rohan Olugala of the Western North Crime Division and Assistant Superintendent of Police Mahinda Jayasundara of the CID. A special police team from Indonesia also assisted in the operation, which ended in the successful apprehension of the suspects.
Authorities are expected to launch detailed interrogations into Padme and his group, with investigations likely to shed light on transnational criminal activities. Officials underscored that this operation marks a significant achievement in cracking down on organized crime networks with international ties.
