Sri Lankan police on Saturday hunted a former navy chief linked to the kidnap and murder of 11 people in an extortion case that has attracted international condemnation.
Wasantha Karannagoda, 66, was added to a list of 14 men accused of abducting children from wealthy families in 2008-2009 and later killing them.
Colombo Fort Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake on Friday impounded the retired admiral's passport as police feared he would attempt to flee the country.
The four allegations against Karannagoda include conspiracy to murder, which carries the death penalty.
"We have launched a search for him," a police official told AFP. "We have alerted all ports of exit."