A Sri Lankan businessman who is giving evidence in two separate court cases against Potta Nauffer, the notorious underworld kingpin jailed for life for the killing of High Court Judge Sarath Ambepitiya, has appealed for police protection.

Fearing for his life, M. G. M. S. Zurfick, President of Falcon International, has written to the Colombo Chief Magistrate, the Defence Secretary, IGP and the Justice Ministry seeking police protection as Potta Nauffer is one of the most dangerous underworld figures in the country.

A letter written to the Justice Ministry seeking protection was referred to the IGP in September 2008, but Zurfick says that no measures have been taken so far to provide security to him.

He said that the Petteh police failed to take action against Potta Nauffer and his henchmen who broke into his office at Moulana building, Pettah in a bid to use force to eject him in 2004.

It was after a lapse of three years, that the Pettah police moved in the matter following his complaint to the Defence Ministry and filed action against Potta Nauffer, he asserted.

"The police dragged their feet and failed to arrest the suspect at the time the break-in was reported", Zurfick said. "They ignored my complaint for three years".

He said that he also complained to the National Police Commission (NPC) about the police inaction and the matter was taken up with the then DIG – Colombo following this intervention.

"I have read news reports about ‘prisoners serving life sentences walking out of jail in the night with the connivance of certain prison officers’. It was also reported that convict Potta Nauffer was amongst those in the death row who is allowed to go out at any time. I fear for my life as this underworld figure can do any dirty deed and slip back to prison", Zurfick says.

"I fear that Potta Nauffer will try to harm me and my family".