Six persons on two motorbikes involved:

Pre-dawn heist of Rs 70 million

Robbery took place near teller machine:

Sarath MALALASEKERA

A six member gang in motorcycles robbed Rs 70 million near a teller machine of a bank at Thelangapatha in the Peliyagoda police area at about 1.30 a.m. yesterday, Police spokesman SP Prishantha Jayakody said.

The money had been brought to be deposited in teller machines in the area.

While they were depositing the cash into the Machine at Thelangapatha, six persons on two motorbikes had blocked their way, robbed the cash which was in a bag and had escaped with the loot.

The suspects had also removed the weapons from the security officers who came in the private bank van.

The Peliyagoda police are also assisting in the investigations conducted by the Colombo Crime Division.

The special police team cordoned-off the area to arrest the suspects.

Banks islandwide have been asked to be on alert about any suspicious persons coming to deposit the looted money and to inform the Colombo Crime Division or the nearest Police Station, SP Jayakody said.

Inspector General of Police Mahinda Balasuriya directed the Colombo Crime Division to conduct investigations into the robbery.