Photos, phone numbers found in Kehelbaddara Padme’s mobile phone

28-Aug-2026

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Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officials informed the Colombo Magistrate’s Court that the mobile phone of Koralagamge Manudina Padmasiri Perera, alias Kehelbaddara Padme, who is being detained and investigated under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), contained the telephone numbers of 13 prison officials and photographs of seven politicians, including models.

Kehelbaddara Padme, who was arrested in Indonesia and brought back to Sri Lanka, was produced before Colombo Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama on August 25, 2026, under heavy security.

When CID investigating officers made submissions, they informed court that charges had been filed against the suspect under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. The suspect has also been named as the 18th suspect in connection with the murder of Ganemulla Sanjeewa.

As the case relating to the murder of Ganemulla Sanjeewa is scheduled to be taken up on the 4th of next month, the officers requested that prison authorities be directed to produce the suspect before court on that date.

The suspect, who was arrested in Indonesia last year, was brought to Sri Lanka on August 30, 2025, and had since been detained and investigated under detention orders. As the period of detention had now expired, the investigating officers requested that he be remanded.

Continuing their submissions, the investigating officers told court that the suspect had been arrested pursuant to a Red Notice issued by Interpol and that a detention order had subsequently been obtained on the instructions of the Minister of Defence and remained in force until the date of the court proceedings.

Although the CID had taken possession of the mobile phone belonging to the suspect, all the data stored on it had been deleted. However, the CID’s technical division had succeeded in recovering the deleted data, the officers informed court.