Drug king pin ‘Wele Sudha’ amassed assets worth over Rs. 180m in 2 years

By Damith Wickremasekara
Flees SL from police net and conducts operations here from Singapore, India and Dubai

One of Sri Lanka’s biggest drug traffickers, Samantha Kumara Vithanage alias ‘Wele Sudha’ from Badovita off Ratmalana, who started off as a bootlegger and later switched to heroin trafficking for its ‘greater returns’, amassed assets worth a whopping Rs. 180 million or more in two years.

He fled the country last year with his wife, just when the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) opened investigations into his activities early last year. However, his operations still continue.But, almost a year later, his wife, Gayani Priyadharshani (32) alias ‘Suji’ returned to the country, leading to her arrest at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).

A senior CID officer, who was not authorised to speak to the media, said on grounds of anonymity, that, since her arrest they have been able to gradually unearth information about drug trafficking operations and their wealth, but they believe her husband was still conducting operations through his net works from India, Singapore and Dubai.

“We are aware that there are a number of persons connected to Wele Sudha who are continuing his operations”, the officer added.
To date, CID investigations have revealed that Wele Sudha owned two luxury apartments worth over Rs. 45 million, two houses in Bagatalle Road worth over Rs. 40 million, and two houses in Pannipitiya and Madiwela worth over Rs. 10 million.
He also owned a 16 perches land in Dehiwala worth Rs. 16 million and 14 perches in Nedimale worth Rs. 14 million.
He also owns three luxury vehicles and gold jewelley.

Pictures show a luxury house, a car, cash and jewellery – some of the assets the couple had amassed over the past two years

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