Rent-a-car racket : Police file further report

by Sarath Malalasekera

The Fort Police who are investigating the massive rent-a-car racket yesterday filing a further report before the Colombo Fort Magistrate and Additional District Judge Sarath C. Karunaratne said that they had to recover three more stolen vehicles allegedlly had been sold to the LTTE.

Several vehicles had been sent to the LTTE controled area for sale, said Sub Inspector Lakshman Silva who is conducting investigations into the racket.

Earlier a special squad attached to the Fort Police uncovered a massive rent-a-car racket following the arrest of a woman who is the owner of a rent-a-car service in Welikada Police area. Police also took into custody yesterday fifty-eight stolen vehicles valued over Rs. 90 million.

On an application by the police the Judge remanded the suspect Ramani Pradeepika Nanayakkara till September 27.

The special Police squad deployed by Colombo DIG Pujit Jayasundera and conducted by Colombo Central Senior SP Lucky Dissanayake revealed that the woman now in custody is the owner of a rent-a-car service and used to hire vehicles from private parties and businessmen.

The woman suspect is alleged to have sold the vehicles which were taken for hire to outsiders. Investigations also revealed that the woman suspect had operated the rent-a-car service at Nawala for the last 12 years.

According to the Police her modus operandi is to take vehicles on monthly rental from various persons and changed the colour and the number plates and sell to persons living in distant areas.

Colombo Central ASP Chamipka Siriwardena, Chief Inspector Jayantha Seneviratne OIC, Fort Police, Sub Inspector Lakshman Silva and a special police team attached to the Fort police conducted the raid and arrested the woman suspect.