Three arrested for trying to extort Rs.100 mn

From Chief Incumbent of the Rangiri Dambulla Raja Maha Viharaya

• They impersonated being members of NTJ
• Three suspects were Prasanna Karunarathne (19, Athula Jayashantha (25) and Mihindu Gunarathne (34)
• The suspects were arrested along with a petrol bomb and three mobiles phones

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya and  Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa   

Three suspects were arrested for trying to extort Rs. 100 million from the Chief Incumbent of the Rangiri Dambulla Raja Maha Viharaya and custodian of the Sri Vishnu Devalaya, the Police said.  

The suspects had telephoned and threatened the Chief Incumbent of the Rangiri Dambulla Raja Maha Viharaya, Ven. Ambagaswewa Rahula Thera on May 20 and demanded Rs. 100 million claiming that they were members of the National Thowheed Jama’ath (NTJ).   
A complaint was lodged with the Dambulla Police in this regard.   
The Dambulla Police commenced investigations and submitted a report in the Dambulla Magistrate’s Court seeking permission to analyse telephone numbers.   The suspects were arrested along with a petrol bomb and three mobiles phones.  Investigations revealed that the SIM card which they used to contact the monk had been registered to a man in Padukka.   
The three suspects, Prasanna Karunarathne (19,  Athula Jayashantha (25) and Mihindu Gunarathne (34) were identified as residents of Inamaluwa, Kimbissa and Dambulla. The Police said one was a businessman. The other two suspects were working as drivers at a temple close to the Rangiri Dambulla Raja Maha Viharaya.  The Police said that they would be produced in the Dambulla Magistrate’s Court.   

The three suspects, Prasanna Karunarathne (19, Athula Jayashantha (25) and Mihindu Gunarathne (34) were identified as residents of Inamaluwa, Kimbissa and Dambulla