A special investigation has been ordered to identify officials allegedly responsible for deliberately delaying the submission of documents required to secure Japanese assistance to arrest and extradite alleged organised crime figure and drug trafficker Pothupitiya Kankanamge Prashith Dinuka, alias ‘Dippitigoda Lahiru’ (31).
Lahiru, who operated from Dubai, moved to Japan, while Sri Lankan drug trafficker Pallewatte Gamage Chaminda Dilruk, alias ‘Parevi Suda’, who allegedly provided him protection, remained in Dubai, according to sources.
Police said a network involving senior police officers and certain officials attached to the Attorney General’s Department had delayed the submission of documents required to facilitate Lahiru’s extradition.
The network is believed to have been maintained through financial inducements allegedly provided by Parevi Suda, the sources claimed. The allegations have prompted authorities to investigate whether officials deliberately withheld or delayed information sought by Japanese authorities.
An Interpol Red Notice was issued against Lahiru on June 8, 2023, under reference A-5059/8-2023.
According to police records, Lahiru, whose passport number is N7082478, left for Dubai on March 1, 2022. His last known address in Sri Lanka is No. 226/F/11, Dippitigoda, Kelaniya.
Despite the Red Notice and a series of serious criminal investigations linked to him, the required documentation had allegedly not been properly transmitted to Japan, sources said. They alleged that some information concerning Lahiru had either not been forwarded or had been forwarded incompletely, hampering efforts to secure his arrest and extradition.
Police records reportedly link Lahiru to more than a dozen killings and attempted killings allegedly carried out on his orders while he was abroad.
Among the cases under investigation are a series of shootings reported between May and December 2022.
According to police records, Lahiru allegedly ordered and financed a series of killings and attempted killings while he was operating from Dubai.
The following cases are among those in which he is alleged to have contracted or arranged the killings:
On May 30, 2022, Gammana Liyanage Lakshitha Viraj was shot dead with a T-56 firearm at Bastian Mawatha, Pettah, Colombo, while Palle Kumburage Pradeep Sandamal of Alutwatte, Nakiyadeniya, was injured.
On June 3, Modara Pelige Gayan Sampath Fernando of Bandarawatte, Beruwala, was shot dead with a revolver at Moragalla, Aluthgama.
Two days later, on June 5, Ratnaweera Patabendige Asela Sampath of Nakulugamuwa, Tangalle, was shot dead at Moraketiara Junction, Kudawella, while two others were injured.
On June 26, 2022, Hewawasam Aththanayake Aruna Kantha Aththanayake, alias ‘Police Aththanayake,’ of Devalapola, Minuwangoda, was shot dead near Pattiya Junction, Peliyagoda. His two-year-old child was also injured in the shooting.
On June 30, 2022, Senanayake Roshan Priyantha of Sri Anandarama Mawatha, Kolonnawa, was shot dead near the clock tower at Kolonnawa Junction.
According to police records, the alleged contract killings continued with the shooting of Bombuwala Devage Achira Nethruwan Bombuwala of Kehelbaddara, Udugampola, in front of the Mr Cut salon at Udugampola on August 6, 2022.
On August 24, 2022, Basnayake Appuhamilage Anuradha Pushpa Kumara Tissera of Nedagamuwa, Kotugoda, was shot dead outside the Malli Super Hardware shop at Batapotha, Gampaha.
On September 14, 2022, Mohamed Arif Mohamed Hussain, alias ‘Arji,’ of Wellawatte, Wellampitiya, was shot dead near Gurukula Vidyalaya at Pattiya Junction, Peliyagoda.
On November 15, 2022, Muthukuda Arachchige Dimuthu Subhash of Nedagamuwa, Kotugoda, was shot and injured outside Siyambalapitiya Maha Vidyalaya, Gampaha.
On December 23, 2022, Kotagedara Liyanage Gihan Kanchana Perera of Lahuwala, Raddoluwa, was shot dead near Galiganeliya Junction, Seeduwa.
Police sources said the latest investigation is aimed at determining whether administrative delays, negligence or deliberate intervention by officials hindered efforts to secure Lahiru’s arrest and extradition from Japan.