A shootout in Athurugiriya earlier today resulted in the death of one individual and injuries to several others, including a famous singer. During the incident, nightclub owner Surendra Wasantha Perera, also known as Nightclub Wasanatha, was killed.
Wasanatha was a well-known figure in and around Colombo and on social media. Let’s explore who Wasanatha really was. He owned several karaoke and nightclubs, which led to his alias, Nightclub Wasanatha. His formal business name was Sunhill Business Group. He once told the media that he started his business while still in school at the age of 17.
He made his first mark in business in Nuwara Eliya, where Sunhill Hotel, a leading hotel he established, is still in operation today.
“I started my hotel with twenty rooms in Nuwara Eliya at the age of twenty. At the age of 17, I went to Japan on a scholarship to study Japanese language and hotel management and worked hard at various jobs while studying. I was able to achieve significant success in my twenties with the money I earned from working hard in Japan. Today, I have several hotels in Katunayake, Kollupitiya, Negombo, Bolgoda, and Pasikuda. Apart from this, my businesses have expanded into many sectors, including vehicle and property trading.”
Wasanatha Perera also expanded his Sunhill Business Group to Dubai. Several years ago, he mentioned plans to start an internal airline service.
He started a luxury hotel with twenty rooms in 1992 at the age of 20, and within ten years, he had become a prominent businessman in Colombo. During this time, he was also known as Karaoke Wasantha due to the popularity of his karaoke nightclubs in Colombo. One accusation against him drew the attention of the highest authorities in the country.
He was arrested in 2013 for obstructing the police traffic department while travelling in a luxury SUV. He had claimed to be a secretary of a minister, but higher authorities became aware of the situation, leading to his arrest along with several colleagues. However, he was granted bail.
Wasanatha gained more attention when a video surfaced of him attending a party in Dubai with the drug lord Makandure Madush. Commenting on the video, he mentioned that Madush was his friend.
Although he built a business network over 25 years, his friends said that he associated more with a certain group of friends rather than the Colombo business elite. Chamuditha Samaravikuma, a popular TV anchor, mentioned that a few minutes before his death, Wasanatha had sent a verbal message to his WhatsApp number appreciating one of the videos aired on Chamuditha’s YouTube channel. Chamuditha heard about the murder just a few minutes later.
Wasantha attended today’s event with his wife and the famous singer K. Sujeewa. Currently, Sujeewa is being treated along with several others.
K. Sujeewa is a renowned singer in Sri Lanka, known for her hit song “Ingimarana Tharu Raana.” She has performed at numerous musical events. A mother of two daughters, she has openly spoken about her two failed marriages and is often portrayed as a strong, independent single parent. Her second marriage to the famous singer Ajith Muthukumarana made headlines over their divorce. Both Sujeewa and Muthukumarana openly discussed their failed marriage on social media, pointing fingers at each other for various reasons.
