Discussions with UAE to get Madush extradited

Sri Lankan Government will hold discussions with the UAE Government at State level over the possibility of extraditing notorious underworld drug kingpin Makandure Madush and other Sri Lankans who were arrested in Dubai, State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene said yesterday.

However, he said that the Sri Lankan Government had not been informed at diplomatic level about the arrest. He said further action would be taken following the discussion. Makandure Madush was among a group of 20 suspects arrested in Dubai on Monday in a joint operation by the Dubai Police and Sri Lankan law enforcement authorities. Popular Sri Lankan singer Amal Perera, his son Nadimal, an actor and underworld criminals identified as Keselwatte Dinuka and Kachcipani Imran were among those arrested.

Meanwhile, the Dubai based Khaleej Times reported that a large quantity of drugs was recovered from the suspects and among the 20 suspects arrested was a visitor carrying a diplomatic passport.

Meanwhile MP Namal Rajapaksa yesterday questioned a Minister and the Foreign Affairs Ministry over the Dubai Khaleej Times report of a visitor carrying a diplomatic passport.

“This article (Khaleej Times) talks about a diplomatic passport holder also being arrested among the gang of drug kingpin “Makadure Madhush”. Minister of Finance, Media, Mangala Samaraweera and Foreign Affairs Ministry, can you please clarify as to who this person is? And how they were given a diplomatic passport that ended up in a drug bust?” Mr Rajapaksa tweeted.