May 25, Colombo (LNW): Two individuals have been taken into custody over their suspected involvement in fabricating multiple forged passports for an internationally wanted figure linked to organised criminal activity.
The arrests are part of a broader investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department’s specialised unit tackling financial fraud, maritime crime and smuggling operations.
The suspects, aged 32 and 51, are residents of Maligawatta and Eheliyagoda respectively. Both operate photo studios in Colombo’s suburbs—one in Kohuwala and the other in Battaramulla. Authorities believe the pair played a key role in helping an individual known as Mandinu Padmasiri Perera, infamously dubbed “Kelehelbaddara Padme”, to acquire fraudulent travel documents while residing overseas.
Investigators revealed that the suspects acquired photographic images of the fugitive through encrypted messaging platforms such as WhatsApp. The images were digitally manipulated before being submitted to the Department of Immigration and Emigration, alongside falsified personal data.
These actions reportedly facilitated the issuance of three separate passports, two of which were issued under fictitious identities in 2025.
The figure at the centre of the case, Padmasiri Perera, originally departed the country in 2021 using a valid passport obtained in 2014. After its expiry, he is believed to have acquired a fresh passport through the one-day express service in early 2024—despite being physically overseas at the time.
Authorities now suspect this was done through deceptive means, with intermediaries submitting forged documents on his behalf.
The two suspects were brought before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court on 23 May and have been ordered into remand custody until May 29. The CID’s specialised unit is continuing its investigation into how such an operation was able to bypass stringent immigration controls, and whether further accomplices, including insiders within official departments, may have aided the scheme.
