July 29, Colombo (LNW): A figure believed to be a key player in Sri Lanka’s organised criminal underworld was taken into custody at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake, following his deportation from India, law enforcement authorities confirmed.
The suspect, identified as Sahan Sisi Kalum and widely known by the alias “Weligama Sahan,” was intercepted by officers of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) shortly after disembarking.
His arrival had been anticipated following cooperation between Sri Lankan and Indian authorities, resulting in his extradition to face charges in connection with a string of violent crimes.
Weligama Sahan is alleged to be the principal suspect behind several high-profile shooting incidents, including attacks in the Panadura and Kalutara areas that drew public attention due to their brazen nature.
He has also been linked to the attempted killing of an individual referred to as “Paththe Suranga” in Mattakkuliya—an incident widely believed to be a targeted hit in a wider turf conflict between rival underworld networks.
Police sources have further described the suspect as a hired gun with ties to contract killings and organised crime operations spanning multiple regions. His alleged involvement in orchestrating targeted shootings has made him a figure of considerable interest to law enforcement, particularly in the context of rising concerns over underworld violence.
After his arrest at the airport, Sahan was handed over to the Kalutara Range Crime Division, which has now taken the lead in conducting a deeper investigation.
Authorities are expected to interrogate the suspect to gather intelligence on broader criminal networks, illicit arms trafficking, and potential collaborators both within Sri Lanka and abroad.
Investigators are also looking into his activities while in India, amid growing suspicions that elements of Sri Lanka’s underworld are operating transnationally, using neighbouring territories as safe havens and operational bases.
