Srilanka, July 4 — Three Sri Lankan suspects who fled to India by boat after being granted bail by local courts were deported back to Sri Lanka yesterday evening (July 3) on a court order and handed over to authorities at the Katunayake International Airport.Among the deported individuals are Madiwalage Asitha Sagara Gunathilaka (33) and Silpathwarige Sumith Roland Fernando (44), both residents of the Welihena area in Kochchikade. The duo are defendants in eight ongoing money laundering cases at the Puttalam Magistrate’s Court, involving a stock of tobacco valued at Rs. 54.8 million.
The third deportee, Selvaraj Kabilan (34) from Pudukudiyirippu, Wellappalam, had been arrested earlier by the Police Special Task Force in the Kodikamam Police Division for possession of 240 grams of crystal methamphetamine (“ice”).
All three suspects had escaped Sri Lanka on June 27 by boat from Mannar to India, where they were later apprehended by Indian security forces. The Trichy Court subsequently ordered their deportation.Sri Lankan handicrafts
They were flown from Trichy to Katunayake on SriLankan Airlines flight UL-134, arriving at 5:20 p.m. Upon arrival, officers from the Criminal Investigation Department arrested the suspects and recorded their statements.
The two money laundering suspects were handed over to the Puttalam Special Crimes Investigation Division at around 10:15 p.m. last night. Meanwhile, Kabilan is scheduled to be produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court today (July 4) and detained by the Police Narcotics Bureau for further questioning.
