COMMANDER AND TWO SOLDIERS OF WELIKANDA RUWANPITIYA ARMY CAMP WENT TO DIG FOR TREASURES AND GOT TRAPPED…
Three army soldiers, including the commanding officer of Polonnaruwa Welikanda Ruwanpitiya Army Camp, and a uniformed officer, along with an army jeep, were arrested yesterday (31) evening, who were digging for treasures using high-tech scanning machines in an archaeological area of Mawadiode, Toppigala, Batticaloa.
The arrested Army Commander is a Lieutenant Colonel serving as the Commanding Officer of the Third Mechanized Infantry Regiment, Welikanda Ruwanpitiya.
The other two army officers are attached to the camp and one is an army sergeant.
Among the seized items are a state-of-the-art Deep Seeker type scanner (GDS 1574), 01 Casper type Tab machine, an army cab (U.H. 50929) and 04 mobile phones.
The arrested commander and the two army officers along with the commander and the army jeep will be presented to the Eravur Magistrate’s Court today (01), the Karadianaru police said.
The Karadianaru Police, who are conducting the investigation, also state that the place where the suspects searched for treasure using scanning machines has been identified as a place marked by the Department of Archaeology.
Police also say that the arrested Chivaradhariya is a resident of a temple in Ratnapura area.
According to the information received by the Vavnathiv Special Task Force, the raid has been foiled and the scanners and army jeep seized with the suspects have been handed over to the Karadianaru Police for further investigations.
According to the information received by the officers of the Special Task Force Vvnathiv camp, raids were conducted by a team of officers including the Camp Commander Police Inspector M.S. Abraham on the orders and instructions of the Special Task Force Commander, Advocate Varuna Jayasundara and under the supervision and direction of the Assistant Superintendent of Police, Naleen Perera.
A team of police officers including Karadianaru Police Station Inspector Tushara Hemachandra is conducting further investigations into the incident.
(Lanka Sara)