Four arrested for selling Buddha statue made of a Blue Sapphire

• The suspects including a monk who are the brokers of the deal were  preparing to sell the 2 inch Buddha statue at Kumbukkana area on Sunday

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya and Nayanajeewa Bandara  

Four suspects have been arrested when they attempted to sell a Buddha statue made of a Blue Sapphire for Rs. 6 billion in Moneragala, Police said.   

According to information received by the officers of the Moneragala Crime Investigation Division, the suspects including a monk who are the brokers of the deal were preparing to sell the 2 inch Buddha statue at Kumbukkana area on Sunday.  

Police said two of the suspects were soldiers while one of them was a Software Engineer from Rambewa area.   
They reportedly claimed that they found the statue in a treasure which they dug up. 

 
The police team in civvies posing as businessmen met the suspects and agreed to buy the statue for Rs.600 million.  
The arrested suspects, aged 20, 26, 30 and 40 identified as residents of Rabewa, Anuradhapura and Peradeniya, together with the statue, were handed over to the Moneragala Police for further investigations.   

The suspects were to be produced before the Moneragala Magistrate.  

Police said the suspects were arrested for attempting to sell a rare statue of archaeological value.   

• Two of the suspects were soldiers while one of them was a Software Engineer from Rambewa area