Eight suspects, including a woman, have been arrested in connection with the theft of over Rs. 20 million belonging to a private institution in Pettah. The incident occurred while an employee of the institution was transporting the money to a bank.
According to Police, the arrests were made by the Kelaniya Divisional Crime Prevention Bureau, following the inspection of a suspicious three-wheeler in the Naranminiya area of the Peliyagoda Police Division on the 22nd. Officers found Rs. 3 million inside a bag carried by one of the passengers, leading to the arrest of both the passenger and the driver for questioning.
Subsequent interrogations revealed that the supposed “robbery” had been staged with the involvement of an employee from the private institution. The investigation later led to the arrest of another suspect in possession of Rs. 1.5 million, and five more suspects with Rs. 22.24 million and a motorcycle allegedly used in the crime.
The arrested individuals, aged between 25 and 60 years, are residents of Kelaniya, Peliyagoda, Wellampitiya, Mawanella, and Kadawatha.
The Kelaniya Divisional Crime Prevention Bureau is conducting further investigations into the incident.
