A criminal wanted by Police over several crimes, who tried to flee to a foreign country under a false name has escaped from the custody of the Katunayake Airport Police, Police Media Spokesman SSP Nihal Talduwa said.

Police say that the suspect arrived at Katunayake Airport in two cars to go abroad with another person on Friday (24) night.

Two travel bans had been imposed against the suspect. One under his real name and another under the fake name he appears in.

Katunayake Airport Immigration Department officials have informed the Katunayake Airport Police after the suspect came to immigration counter and prevented him from going abroad.

Following that, a group of Katunayake Airport Police officers have arrested him kept him in the cell.

During questioning, the suspect has reportedly stated that he was a deserter from the Sri Lanka Navy and that he had committed 9 murders all over Sri Lanka, the recent murder in Hanwella area being one of them.

Following the interrogation, the person who was in the cell at that time had been taken out of it. However, the suspect had later managed to escape from the custody of Katunayake Airport Police.

A group of high-ranking police officers of the area have visited the Katunayake Airport Police and launched an investigation and it is also reported that a police sergeant who was on duty at the time has been arrested.