Are Manamperi’s Weapons Tied to Kanjipani Imran’s Crime Syndicate?

COLOMBO (News 1st); Is There a Link Between Manamperi and the Tangalle Drug Haul?

Police have not yet confirmed any direct connection between Sampath Manamperi and the massive drug haul uncovered yesterday (22).

Manamperi, a former Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) local council candidate, is currently in detention and being interrogated over suspicions of involvement in organized crime, including drug trafficking, alongside individuals such as Kehilibaddara Padme and Backhoe Saman.

A large quantity of suspected crystal methamphetamine (ICE) and precursor chemicals believed to be used in drug production were previously discovered on land owned by Manamperi’s family in Middeniya.

Following his arrest, police recovered several firearms and ammunition from another location he had visited. Among the weapons were items marked with the initials K.P.I.

What is K.P.I.?

The initials K.P.I. were previously found on several bullets recovered during the investigation into the murder of Surendra Wasantha Perera, also known as Club Wasantha, which occurred on 8 July last year.

Investigators at the time linked the initials to Kanjipani Imran, a known organized criminal figure. 

Imran, who operated out of Maligawatta in Colombo, was arrested in Dubai alongside Makandure Madush, but later escaped custody after being repatriated to Sri Lanka.

During the investigation into Club Wasantha’s murder, the owner of the tattoo studio where the incident occurred told police that the crime was orchestrated by Loku Patty and Unakuruwe Shantha.

Notably, Unakuruwe Shantha has now been named as the suspected owner of the massive drug consignment seized in Tangalle yesterday.

In May this year, Sujiva Ruwan Kumara, alias Loku Patty, was arrested in Belarus and extradited to Sri Lanka. 

He reportedly confessed that the murder of Club Wasantha was carried out at the request of Kanjipani Imran.

According to Loku Patty’s statement, the motive behind the killing was a financial dispute—Club Wasantha had allegedly failed to return a sum of money to Makandure Madush prior to his death.

Are the firearms marked with the initials "K.P.I." linked to Sampath Manamperi?

Is the presence of the "K.P.I." markings on the weapons allegedly hidden by Sampath Manamperi indicative of a connection to Kanjipani Imran?

Could Kanjipani Imran, Unakuruwe Shantha, and Sampath Manamperi be part of the same organized criminal network?

If so, are individuals such as Kehilibaddara Padme and Backhoe Saman also affiliated with this network?

Are these groups behind the wave of organized crimes that have occurred in recent years?

Sampath Manamperi previously served as a police constable and was assigned to the security detail of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

During that time, he was implicated in several serious crimes, including kidnappings and murders.

One such case involved the abduction and murder of Sri Skandharaja, the owner of Kala Traders, reportedly for ransom.

Another allegation linked him to the assassination of former MP Nadarajah Raviraj, a prominent Sri Lankan Tamil politician.

Manamperi later became a state witness following intervention by the Attorney General. 

In 2016, all suspects in the Raviraj case were acquitted by the High Court, though the case is currently under appeal.

On 18 February, Middeniye Kajja and his two children were murdered. The crime was allegedly orchestrated by Backhoe Saman and Thambili Lahiru.

Investigators now reveal that Backhoe Saman had previously worked as a driver for a bus owned by Sampath Manamperi.