Two suspects were arrested by the Human Trafficking, Smuggling and Maritime Crime Investigation Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department on 23.05.2025 after being summoned to the Criminal Investigation Department and recording their statements in connection with an investigation being conducted by the Human Trafficking, Smuggling and Maritime Crime Investigation Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department regarding the obtaining of 03 fake passports by submitting false information to the Controller General of Immigration and Emigration.
The suspects arrested are two owners of two studio establishments in Kohuwala and Battaramulla, aged 32 and 51, residents of Maligawatta and Eheliyagoda.
It has been revealed that these suspects had obtained the photograph of Koralagamage Mandinu Padmasiri Perera, alias Kehelbaddara Padme, an organized criminal currently abroad, through WhatsApp, edited it and falsely forwarded it to the Department of Immigration and Emigration for the processing of passports.
The above organized criminal had gone abroad in 2021 using a passport obtained in 2014. When the said passport expired in 2024, while he was abroad, his photograph and information were falsely forwarded to the Department of Immigration and Emigration and a new passport was fraudulently obtained in 2024 through the One-Day Service.
In addition, it has been revealed during the investigations conducted so far that two more passports were also obtained in 2025 under two different names with his photographs inserted.
The two suspects were produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate’s Court on 23.05.2025 and have been remanded until 29.05.2025