Museum heist was one man show - Police

Ridma Dissanayake and Mahinda Aluthgedara

There is no connection to a politician, businessman, police officer or a foreigner in the Colombo Museum artefacts’ robbery in March. Lansage Priyantha Mendis alias Kumara alias Kan Getta arrested by the Police on October 27 carried out the robbery alone, Western Province Senior DIG Anura Senanayake said yesterday. He said certain groups were expressing numerous opinions regarding the discovery of the stolen artefacts with the aim of criticising and attacking the government and undermining the work of the Police Department.

“Police and CID investigations revealed that no one else was involved in the robbery. Finger prints found at the museum proved that Kan Getta was the only person who entered the museum and carried out the robbery,” he said.

Senior DIG Senanayake addressing a media briefing at the Police Headquarters yesterday, said the robbery had been carried out on March 16 night and the complaint was lodged the next day.

He said if Kan Getta had any guidance,he would have sold the artefacts and earned a huge sum.

“The stolen artefacts were hidden in several places after being broken in to pieces. Some were sold at a song. We have recovered 90 percent of the stolen artefacts,” he said. The Colombo Museum security camera was out of order, three or four days prior to the robbery. The three security officers working on March 16 night had been asleep, DIG Senanayake said.

The main suspect in the robbery was taken into custody on October 27 in Negombo.

The Police arrested another eight who supported Kan Getta to hid and transport the stolen artefacts. Kan Getta is wanted in connection with around 70 crimes throughout the country.

National Museum Department Assistant Director Senarath Wickremasinghe said 221 artefacts were stolen.

“We have interdicted seven persons and filed complaints against eight persons related to the museum robbery. We have informed the Vocational Training Authority about the failure in the security camera system,” he said,

Colombo National Museum Director Ranjith Hewage said another camera system has been installed at the museum in place of the older one.