Museum break - in :

Main suspect arrested

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

The Police said yesterday the main suspect in the Colombo National Museum artefact robbery was taken into custody on Saturday. The chief suspect in the National Museum robbery, Lansage Priyantha Mendis alias Kumara alias Kan Getta, a resident of Siyambalape was taken into custody by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Police Media Spokesman SSP Prishantha Jayakody said.

SSP Priyantha said the suspect was taken into custody in Negombo after a lengthy investigation. The CID arrested Kumara while working as a mason in a tourist hotel in Negombo, sources said.

Following the posting of the suspect’s sketch in the media and announcing a Rs 500,000 reward for information leading to his whereabouts, the Police received a number of tip-offs. The Police arrested four suspects in August allegedly involved in the museum break- in, while conducting investigations into the arrest of the main suspect and arrested three other suspects at the beginning of the month. Thieves who broke in to the National Museum on March 16 got away with several priceless artefacts belonging to the Kandyan era.

A Rs one million reward was offered for anyone providing information about the robbery.

The suspects stole a number of historically valuable artefacts including gold plated short swords, ancient notes, gold coins, silver coins, bejewelled gold rings, a gem-encrusted walking stick, a gold waist belt and a silver sword among others.

The Police have already found some stolen artefacts during the last seven months.