New details emerge on lawyer linked to Ganemulla Sanjeewa murder case

Attorney-at-Law Tamara Kumari Aberathne, who was detained on suspicion of aiding and abetting the murder of Ganemulla Sanjeewa, allegedly maintained connections with several large-scale drug traffickers and underworld leaders.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) reported these findings to Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama today (27) while producing the suspect in court following the conclusion of her detention period.

Inspector of Police Suminda Gunasekara, appearing for the CID, informed the court that investigations revealed the suspect’s links with alleged notorious figures, including Kehelbaddara Padme, Backhoe Saman, and Harak Kata.

According to the police, the suspect was initially arrested and detained for 72 hours, followed by a 90-day extension, which expired yesterday (26), for allegedly providing a tie and a lawyer’s identity card to the shooter involved in the Ganemulla Sanjeewa murder to help him pose as a legal professional.

Investigations further uncovered that the suspect assisted Kehelbaddara Padme and another individual named Chaminda Roshan to flee the country.

The shooter, identified as Samidu, was reportedly found in possession of the lawyer’s identity card.

Police records show the suspect travelled abroad 15 times between November 2012 and May 2025 and allegedly facilitated efforts to help Nadun Chinthaka, alias Harak Kata, evade arrest in Madagascar.

Financial scrutiny revealed that a private bank account in Kadawatha belonging to the suspect saw transactions totalling Rs. 230 million, an amount a staff member from her office claimed could not be earned through standard legal fees.

Furthermore, the court heard that the suspect used a forged identity card, stating her birth year as 1972 instead of 1970, to maintain seven accounts at a state bank in Kadawatha.

The defence counsel argued that these statements were not given voluntarily and were extracted under duress by the CID, while also requesting special protection for the suspect within the prison.

The Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) named the lawyer as the 28th suspect in the murder investigation and requested her production in court again on May 5.

After considering the submissions, the Magistrate ordered the suspect to be held in remand custody until May 7.