What was done about the police officers, businessmen, and state officials he exposed?
What became of the properties worth hundreds of millions that Madush acquired through drug money?
And who was the person that shot Madush? | Sri Lanka Latest News
Makandure Madush gave extensive testimony to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) about a Western Province politician who was heavily involved in the drug trade. This politician had risen from municipal council to provincial council, then to Parliament, and later held a cabinet ministerial position.
The CID was preparing to arrest several politicians named by Madush, including this individual, but those investigations were halted after the fall of the Yahapalana (Good Governance) government. One major reason was the transfer of senior CID officials.
At that time, the head of the CID was Ravi Seneviratne, who later retired and now serves as Secretary to the Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs. The CID director then was Senior DIG Shani Abeysekara, who still holds that position.
Madush revealed how some politicians spent money during elections, how they received properties, how they were assisted in starting businesses, and how they laundered drug money.
From Dubai, Madush operated his narcotics empire after becoming an underworld “godfather,” supported by many politicians. One vehicle rental company he funded was even ceremonially opened by a Prime Minister. Behind it stood a politician backed by Madush’s drug money, intelligence sources revealed. This all happened before Madush’s arrest in Dubai.
On February 5, 2019, during his daughter’s birthday party at a hotel in Dubai, Madush was arrested along with 31 Sri Lankans by Dubai Police following a clash among drug traffickers. Among them were underworld criminals like Kanjipani Imran, Rotumba Amila, twin singers, an actor, and even a prison officer. Many had flown from Sri Lanka specifically for the party.
Initially, Dubai authorities decided not to deport Madush and the others. But after discussions between then-President Maithripala Sirisena and the UAE leadership, and later with the involvement of then-Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana and Attorney General’s Department officials, the UAE changed its decision. Eventually, all suspects, including Madush, were deported to Sri Lanka.
Madush was brought back on May 5, 2019, and detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). During CID interrogations, he revealed details not only about politicians but also about state properties and assets he controlled. He implicated many police officers, prison officials, and government servants.
However, after the Yahapalana government’s fall, the investigations into the politicians, officers, businessmen, and assets exposed by Madush never progressed.
Later, in October 2020, Madush was handed over to the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) on “higher orders.” Within 24 hours, police claimed they recovered about 10 kg of heroin from Kotikawatta based on Madush’s information.
On October 19, 2020, CCD officers reportedly took Madush to a housing complex in Maligawatte to recover another 22 kg of heroin allegedly hidden on the 10th floor. This housing complex, built by the Urban Development Authority, had previously been swamp and shanty land. It was opened to the public during the Yahapalana administration. Madush himself had never visited it before.
While police said they were taking him there based on his information, Madush—who was handcuffed and under tight police guard—was suddenly shot in the head by an unknown gunman inside the housing complex. The shooter escaped.
Only a handful of CCD officers and senior police officials knew that Madush was being taken to the location that night. To this day, doubts remain whether an armed policeman could have been responsible, since the actual gunman has never been caught.
With Madush’s mysterious killing, the politicians and others involved in his drug network breathed a sigh of relief. None of the vast assets worth billions that Madush amassed through drug trafficking have been seized.
Now, the CID has the chance to reopen these investigations from the beginning—especially since both the Secretary of the Ministry of Police and the current head of the CID are officials who were directly involved in the earlier investigations into Madush and know the details well.
By Gayaan Kumara Weerasinghe – Dinamina
