Colombo, Sri Lanka — In a move underscoring the gravity of the charges he faces, notorious underworld figure Nandun Chinthaka Wickramaratne, better known as Harak Kata, is currently being held in a non-prison secure facility due to serious national and public security concerns, police confirmed.
His detention is being enforced under Section 15(a)(1) of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) with the explicit authorisation of the Secretary of Defence. The decision to avoid placing him in a standard prison setting comes after investigators warned that such a move could pose a substantial risk, given his influence and criminal connections.
The Attorney General has filed fresh indictments before the Colombo High Court against Harak Kata and four others. Among those named are former CID constable Ravindu Sandeepa Gunasekara, Dinesh Tharanga, Ruwan Chamara (also known as Midigama Ruwan), and Sanjeewa Abeysinghe. The group is accused of conspiring to escape CID custody, a plot that reportedly emerged during ongoing investigations into organised criminal activities.
Earlier, indictments had been filed against Harak Kata and two of the accused. However, following the arrest of the additional suspects, Deputy Solicitor General Sajith Bandara requested court permission to withdraw the original charges in order to file a comprehensive revised indictment. The court noted that this revision could proceed formally if pending appeals filed by the suspects before the Court of Appeal are withdrawn.
Defence attorneys representing the suspects confirmed their intention to file a motion to withdraw the appeals, which is expected to clear the way for the revised case to move forward.
Harak Kata has been at the centre of numerous high-profile investigations into organised crime, narcotics trafficking, and armed violence. His continuing detention under the PTA signals the state’s heightened concern over potential disruptions and security threats linked to his criminal network.
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