Mandinu Padmasiri Perera alias Kehelbaddara Padme, a notorious Sri Lankan underworld figure, and two of his closest associates—known as Commando Salinda and Battaramulle Sanjeewa—have reportedly been arrested by Malaysian security forces.

Lankadeepa reported that the trio was apprehended while attending a party at a luxury hotel in Kuala Lumpur. Their presence in Malaysia was believed to be an attempt to evade arrest in Sri Lanka and other jurisdictions.

Commando Salinda, a former member of the Sri Lanka Army’s Commando Regiment, is said to have deserted the military and later become involved in organised crime, including several murders. Sri Lankan police had been seeking his arrest in connection with multiple homicides.

He is also alleged to have been involved in a plan to assassinate underworld leader Ganemulla Sanjeewa while the latter was in custody at the Aluthkade Magistrate’s Court complex. The plot is believed to have been masterminded by Kehelbaddara Padme, with Commando Salinda taking the lead role in its execution.

Reports indicate that following a failed assassination attempt, Salinda fled to Dubai. There, he allegedly coordinated the plan to eliminate Ganemulla Sanjeewa. After the operation, Padme, Salinda, and Battaramulle Sanjeewa are believed to have fled to Malaysia.

Intelligence sources suggest that the group moved from Dubai to Malaysia fearing that remaining in Dubai posed a growing security risk.