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Court calls for progress report on probe into Makandure Madush’s death

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A motion has been filed with the Colombo Magistrate’s Court seeking an order to hand over the investigations into the death of infamous underworld figure and drug lord ‘Makandure Madush’, who was allegedly killed in a crossfire between police and suspected underworld figures while in police custody, to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).

A motion filed by a group of attorneys who appeared for the rights of the victim was taken up before Colombo Additional Magistrate Manjula Rathnayake today (07).

Appearing for the rights of the victim, Attorney-at-Law Senaka Perera stated before the court that a formal investigation has not been carried out regarding the death of his client as of yet.

Accordingly, he requested the court to issue an order handing over the relevant investigations to the CID.

Following the consideration of the facts presented, the Additional Magistrate stated that such an order cannot be issued, as per a circular that has been issued by the Judicial Services Commission.

Furthermore, the Additional Magistrate advised that the aggrieved party can request for proper investigations by lodging a complaint with the relevant institutions.

However, the Additional Magistrate also ordered Maligawatta Police to brief the court on the progress of investigations related to the incident, on December 05, 2024.

On October 20, 2020, Samarasinghe Arachchilage Madush Lakshitha alias ‘Makandure Madush’ was allegedly killed in a crossfire between the police and suspected underworld figures, while he was in police custody. According to the police, the crossfire took place at a housing complex in Maligawatte.

‘Makandure Madush’ who had been involved in a large number of murders and other criminal activities, was one of the most wanted outlaws in the country. Madush had been in hiding abroad for several years before his arrest.

He was apprehended at a drug-fuelled party thrown by him in a Dubai hotel, back in October 2018 and was kept under the custody of the Dubai authorities before being deported to Sri Lanka on the 05 May 2019.

The officers of the CID had placed him under arrest upon his arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA). After being held in the custody of the CID for nearly one-and-a-half years, the notorious drug kingpin was transferred to the custody of Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) in October 2020.

He had given information to the CCD on a consignment of heroin purportedly hidden inside a home unit owned by ‘Kanjipani Imran’ at the Laksetha Sewana apartment complex in Maligawatte. Thereby, a team of 17 CCD officers including its OIC had led Madush to the said location on October 20, 2020.

As seven officers of the CCD team, who were accompanying Madush, entered the first floor of the building using the staircase, two armed individuals bidding their time on the second floor had opened fire at the police sleuths. Reports revealed that Madush was shot in the head during the gunfire while one of the CCD officers was wounded in the leg.

An exchange of gunfire had then ensued between the police officers and the two suspects who were making an attempt to escape. The police had continued to fire at the duo who were getting away in a motorcycle. However, they had fallen off the vehicle, failing to control the speed amidst the shooting. The suspects had then hurled a hand grenade in the direction of the approaching the CCD officers, injuring one of them.

Madush, who was subsequently admitted to the Colombo National Hospital, had succumbed to injuries.

(adaderana.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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Forests on state lands to be designated as reserves

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The Ministry of Environment has decided to designate several forests located on state owned lands as official forest reserves.

Deputy Minister – Anton Jayakody has stated that such forests, each spanning 05 hectares or more, have been identified in every district.

Special priority will be given to designating forest reserves on mountain peaks.

In the first phase, 20 forests in districts including Monaragala and Ampara have been selected under the new program named ‘Vanaspathi’,  he said.

He further said the initiative aims to protect these forest areas and expand the country’s forest cover.

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No cases filed against 22 banned pyramid schemes – CBSL

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Although the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has banned 22 institutions operating illegal pyramid schemes, no legal action has been taken against any of them so far, according to reports.

This was disclosed during a workshop held at the CBSL yesterday (July 08) on the dangers of pyramid schemes.

According to CBSL officials, after initial investigations, the files were handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further inquiry.

The CID’s Financial Crimes Unit has reportedly completed its investigations and submitted findings to the Attorney General’s Department, which is responsible for filing cases.

However, it was noted that not a single case has been filed to date.

The CBSL states that investigations will be continued against companies engaged in these illegal practices and hopes at least one or two such cases would be filed by the end of this year or early next year (2026).

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NPP’s Nishantha Jayaweera sworn in as MP

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U. D. Nishantha Jayaweera was sworn in as a National People’s Power (NPP) National List Member of Parliament before the Speaker of the House – Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, today (July 09).

He fills the Parliamentary seat left vacant following the resignation of Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma last month.

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