On July 8, Sunhill Group of Companies Chairperson Surendra Wasantha Perera, better known as “Club Wasantha” was killed in a hail of bullets. In a first for Sri Lanka, all 27 bullets aimed at him bore the inscription of three letters – KPI. Club Wasantha moments before his assassination The inscription was quickly connected to the notorious underworld figure Mohamed Najim Mohamed Imran, also known as ‘Kanji Pani Imran,’ who frequently marks illegal drug consignments with his initials.
Information uncovered since the killing regarding possible motives has only reinforced this assumption. The murder of Perera has also revealed the nexus between Sri Lanka’s underworld and certain corrupt policemen. A young Inspector of Police (IP), formerly part of a leading anti-crime unit in Colombo, had conducted extensive investigations into Kanji Pani Imran.
Despite recently claiming to receive death threats, he made the startling decision to flee the country, resurfacing in France. It is now widely known that he is living in France under the protection of Kanji Pani Imran himself. According to sources, the IP along with Kanji Pani Imran was seen recently in Italy at a party thrown by an uncle of an underworld gangster killed in a shootout with the STF.
This IP had also been involved in the investigations into underworld activities at the time of Makandure Madhush’s killing by an unidentified gunman in October 2020. Crime empire However, it is said Kanji Pani Imran’s connection to the IP has now become a threat to other police officers currently serving in the force. There are suggestions that Kanji Pani Imran expanded his crime empire by forming a connection with this particular policeman, ultimately becoming the mastermind behind Club Wasantha’s brutal murder.
According to a police intelligence officer, many policemen are struggling to resist the substantial monetary offers made by Kanji Pani Imran, making it difficult for them to remain uncorrupted. “They are then forced to carry out what the criminals ask of them,” he said. While it has been revealed that the task of eliminating Club Wasantha was assigned to Loku Patty, another prominent underworld figure currently abroad, intelligence officials suggest that Loku Patty could attempt to use the success of this plan to regain his lost dominance in the underworld following the killing of Makandure Madhush.
Despite the claims, Club Wasantha was not killed on Kanji Pani Imran’s orders for providing a tip-off on Makandure Madhush. According to sources, Madhush had invested in several of Club Wasantha’s businesses while the exact number remains unknown. However following Madhush’s death Club Wasantha had not paid Madhush’s share of profits to his family or even Kanji Pani Imran who had also contributed to the investment.
This is said to be one of the main reasons for Club Wasantha’s brutal killing. After Madhush’s death, Kanji Pani Imran assumed control of his underworld gang. Sources indicate that the killing of Club Wasantha was intended as a warning to others to surrender any assets of Madhush they were in possession of.
Interestingly, while investigators have identified the underworld figures behind the killing, the identities of the shooters remain unknown. However, it is suspected that these shooters have received military training due to their demonstrated expertise as witnessed through CCTV footage of the incident. In another twist, it has been revealed that this location was the exact one in which underworld figure Tanil Bandara Dharmashri also known as Bandara with links to Angoda Lokka (who is suspected to have perished in India) was shot dead on February 13, 2017.
At the time the location housed a beauty salon called ‘Sayonara’ which was later torched by an unidentified group following Bandara’s killing. While many businesses had been established at the location over time, none achieved success. The most recent venture, “Unique Tattoo and Coloring Studio,” was opened by Dulan Sanjula Silva, who is now in custody for the murder of Club Wasantha.
Reports suggest that the business was set up as part of a plan by Loku Patty to lure Club Wasantha to the location. Dulan Sanjula Loku Patty transferred close to Rs. 1.
6 million to Silva to set up the studio. Under Loku Patty’s insistence, Silva invited Club Wasantha to the opening event. Following Club Wasantha’s killing, police have arrested seven suspects to date.
Among these is an individual identified as Mahesh, Silva’s business partner. According to his statement, he along with another had transported the vehicle used in the killing from Ahungalla to Athurugiriya. Another suspect is a man who had been in possession of the van used as one of the getaway vehicles by the shooters.
According to the police, the van had been seized by gangsters linked to underworld figures Unakuruwe Shantha and Rotumba Amila before being used in the killing. While the police have already identified several others who may be linked to the killing, they insist that all avenues for their possible escape from the country have been closed. Rajapakshe Don Surendra Wasantha Perera, better known by his aliases Karaoke Wasantha and Club Wasantha, was born into a regular family in Nuwara Eliya.
He had received his education at the Nuwara Eliya Gamini Vidyalaya. Uninterested in educational pursuits, Perera did not receive any higher education. However, he had a talent for dealing with money.
It is said that he even lent out his pocket money to friends, earning an interest in return. According to reports Perera had been employed in Japan and on his return had set up a restaurant called Sunhill in his hometown. During this time he had developed links with a powerful politician, thus making a shift from Nuwara Eliya to Colombo.
In a short time, through the link to this politician, Club Wasantha sets up the Sunhill Karaoke Club in Kollupitiya, then going on to start a chain of such establishments. According to sources, Perera’s personal life was as seedy as his professional life. At the time of his death, he was married to Manik Wijesundara who was also seriously injured in the shooting and is currently receving treatment in the ICU of the Colombo South Teaching Hospital.
Over the years, Perera’s businesses began to falter due to his addiction to gambling, leading to serious financial issues and increasing threats due to his inability to pay back loans obtained from both politicians and the underworld which is now believed to have resulted in his brutal killing. Kanji Pani Imran Mohamed Najim Mohamed Imran was born to a Kanji (porridge) seller in Maligawatta. It is said he had also assisted his father and had accompanied him in selling Kanji on the streets of Colombo.
Completing his studies, he had worked as cashier in a meat stall at the Maligawatta Public Market, before setting up his own meat stall at the Maligawatta junction where he is said to have met notorious underworld figure Manjal Akram, linked to underworld kingpin Faji. As the STF launched a crackdown on underworld figures, Manjal Akram went missing. During this period, Kanjipani Imran assumed responsibility for Akram’s family in addition to his own, which angered another relative of Akram.
This conflict led Imran to flee Sri Lanka in 2015. However, after relocating to Dubai, his criminal activities intensified, including several murders, one of which was his wife. It is reported that he is currently residing in La Chapelle, France, after having fled Sri Lanka in 2020 and is continuing to manage his underworld activities from there.
There are unverified reports that he has claimed political asylum in France..
