6 August 2010 08:46 am
The most wanted fraudster Sakvithi Ranasinghe and his wife have been arrested and are now in police custody in Sri Lanka.
Intelligence sources told Daily Mirror online that Sakvithi had altered his appearance and was using a Tamil name at the time he was arrested by the Mirihana Police and had in his possession monies worth more than Rs. 150,000.
Sources added that he was arrested in Kaduwela following information provided by a Civil Defence Force officer and had reportedly returned to the country from India two months ago. He was handed over to the CID for further investigations.
Sakvithi is accused of swindling more than 1,000 million rupees. Police say they had received more than 2,900 complaints. Senior policemen, soldiers, a woman athlete, cricket players and prominent social figures are among the victims.
Sri Lanka had earlier sought Interpol assistance to arrest the man in connection with what might have been the largest single cash defraud in the country.
An arrest warrant was issued against him in connection with the activities of the finance company in which thousands of Sri Lankans have deposited their savings. (Daily Mirror online)