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Historic Indonesia Operation Nets Sri Lanka's Most Wanted Underworld Leaders in Unprecedented Crackdown



In a landmark operation that marks a turning point in Sri Lanka's battle against organized crime, Sri Lankan police collaborated with Indonesian Police to arrest six of the island nation's most notorious underworld figures in Jakarta, including the country's most wanted criminal Mandinu Padmasiri Perera, alias "Kehelbaddara Padme".

The joint operation, conducted on August 29, 2025, resulted in what Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasooriya described as "the first time in history that such an operation has been carried out" to capture multiple high profile Sri Lankan criminals simultaneously in a foreign country.

The Arrests: A Coordinated International Effort

The suspects were apprehended during intensive raids in Jakarta after a week long covert surveillance operation involving Sri Lankan Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers, Indonesian Metropolitan Police, and INTERPOL. Two Sri Lankan officers, ASP Rohan Olugala of the Western North Crimes Division and ASP Mahinda Jayasundara from the CID, had traveled to Indonesia seven days prior to coordinate the operation.

Among those arrested were:

Kehelbaddara Padme (Mandinu Padmasiri Perera) - Sri Lanka's most wanted criminal

Commando Salinda - Known for paramilitary style operations

Backhoe Saman - Linked to multiple murders including the killing of "Kajja" and two children

Kudu Nilantha (also known as Panadura Nilanga)

Thembili Lahiru - Connected to brutal murders

An unnamed woman associate with a three year old child

All six suspects were subject to INTERPOL Red Notices and are wanted in connection with multiple murders, drug trafficking operations, and organized criminal activities.

Dramatic Capture After Cat-and-Mouse Chase

The operation involved extraordinary circumstances, with Sri Lankan officers operating under "extreme conditions, frequently eating just once a day and sleeping in public areas such as footbridges" while maintaining continuous surveillance - media reports said.

When the suspects received intelligence about the impending arrest, Kehelbaddara Padme, Commando Salinda, and Kudu Nilantha fled their initial hideout in an upscale residential complex in Jakarta. They relocated to another luxury apartment complex approximately 7 kilometers away, traveling over 60 kilometers via various routes to evade detection.

In a desperate attempt to escape justice during their arrest, the suspects offered Indonesian police a bribe of 10 million rupiahs, which officers refused before successfully taking all individuals into custody.

The Return: High-Security Extradition

The suspects were extradited to Sri Lanka on August 30, 2025, arriving at Bandaranaike International Airport under heavy security aboard a Sri Lankan Airlines flight. Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala personally received the suspects at the airport, expressing gratitude to Indonesian authorities for their cooperation.

"I express my thanks to the government of Indonesia and the Indonesian police for helping us bring down a most dangerous criminal gang," Wijepala stated upon their arrival.

The operation was significant enough that Indonesian police officers accompanied the suspects to Sri Lanka to ensure a smooth transfer, highlighting the unprecedented nature of the diplomatic and law enforcement cooperation.

Criminal Empire: Scope of Activities

Kehelbaddara Padme, described by investigators as a syndicate kingpin, stands accused of orchestrating the February 2025 courtroom murder of rival gang leader "Ganemulla Sanjeewa" at the Colombo Hulftsdorp Magistrate's Court. The dramatic assassination, carried out by gunmen dressed as lawyers, shocked the nation and triggered a wave of retaliatory violence between rival criminal factions.

Beyond the courtroom killing, Padme faces charges for "a dozen other killings and drug related crimes" spanning multiple years. His criminal network has been linked to narcotics trafficking, extortion rackets, and transnational smuggling rings operating across South Asia and the Middle East.

The illegal assets investigation division revealed that Padme had purchased property in Sri Lanka worth around 100 million rupees through unlawfully accumulated profits, with authorities now moving to freeze all assets connected to the arrested criminals.

Political Patronage Era Ends

The successful operation reflects a dramatic shift in Sri Lanka's approach to organized crime under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's government, which came to power in 2024 with promises to eradicate corruption and dismantle criminal networks.

"Underworld figures no longer have the political patronage they enjoyed before," IGP Weerasooriya emphasized, explaining why criminal leaders have been forced to "operate from abroad" in countries including Dubai, Russia, Belarus, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia.

Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala said that intelligence reports have confirmed direct political involvement with at least ten major organized crime syndicates, involving politicians from major parties including the UNP, SJB, and SLPP.

Broader Crackdown: International Scope

The Indonesia operation represents part of a larger international manhunt, with Sri Lankan authorities identifying 58 organized criminal syndicates involving approximately 1,400 gang members. Police have issued 75 INTERPOL Red Notices and successfully repatriated 20 criminals from various countries.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has launched investigations to arrest 18 additional powerful underworld leaders reportedly hiding in Dubai and European countries, from where they continue to orchestrate crimes and drug trafficking operations in Sri Lanka.

"This is a clear message to all criminals hiding overseas, no matter where they are, Sri Lanka will track them down and bring them before justice," authorities declared.

Technological and Legal Reforms

To support the crackdown, Sri Lankan authorities have implemented several technological and legal enhancements:

  • Creation of a centralized police database with automated facial recognition technology at airports
  • Integration with INTERPOL data systems for enhanced border controls
  • Establishment of special criminal courts to fast track organized crime prosecutions
  • Proposed Central Criminal Investigation Division to streamline operations across provinces

The government plans to establish specialized criminal courts similar to Italy's anti-Mafia tribunals to ensure swift prosecution of organized crime cases, recognizing that these criminals are "organized, networked, and capable of corrupting institutions".

Regional Impact and Cooperation

The operation showcases growing Indonesia-Sri Lanka cooperation in combating transnational crime. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Arun Hemachandra described the arrests as reflecting the NPP Government's firm policy against organized crime, where diplomacy and global partnerships are harnessed to protect the people and uphold the rule of law.

This cooperation builds on existing bilateral security arrangements, with Indonesia previously offering assistance to Sri Lanka in counter-terrorism measures and combating radicalism.

Ongoing Challenges

Despite this success, significant challenges remain. According to police data, 42 people have been killed in 80 gang related shootings in 2025 alone, indicating the continued threat posed by remaining criminal networks.

The arrested criminals' associates have reportedly issued threats against law enforcement officers, with Kehelbaddara Padme personally threatening Chief Inspector Linton Silva, stating "You have a child, right? You know what to do" in an attempt to intimidate the investigating officer.

Historical Context and Future Implications

The operation marks a potential end to what experts describe as decades of state-sponsored organized crime, where criminal gangs served as auxiliary forces for politicians and enjoyed "political protection so strong that they were attached to Sri Lanka police as auxiliary personnel".

As President Dissanayake noted, "the underworld had apparently infiltrated official institutions tasked with maintaining public security," but emphasized that "crimes that fuelled controversy will be exposed, the perpetrators will face justice, and fairness will be ensured for the victims".

The success of the Indonesia operation, combined with ongoing international cooperation efforts, represents a watershed moment in Sri Lanka's decades long struggle against organized crime, potentially ending an era where criminal masterminds operated with impunity under political protection while terrorizing communities and corrupting state institutions.

The ultimate test will be whether this momentum can be sustained to dismantle the remaining criminal networks and prevent the re-emergence of the political-criminal nexus that has plagued Sri Lankan society for generations.

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