KALUTARA (Daily Mirror) - A 7-year-old girl was abducted by a man from a residence in Moragahahena where he later used the child as leverage to force his former girlfriend to meet him.

The Moragahahena Police launched an investigation after the mother of the abducted girl filed a complaint on Monday. 

According to the mother, the suspect forcibly took her daughter from their home in Godigamuwa, Moragahahena.

They said the complainant resides in the house with her mother, husband, two children and the husband's sister. The latter had been involved in a romantic relationship with the suspect, leading to disputes. On Monday, the man had arrived at the complainant's house in a car and abducted the sleeping child. Subsequently, he had contacted the woman with whom he had the affair, instructing her to meet him or else the child will be harmed.

During the ongoing investigation by Moragahahena Police, it was discovered that the sister, who was romantically involved with the suspect, had gone to meet him in the Kesbewa area. 

Police found the abducted girl after the suspect had handed her over to a relative of the complainant following his meeting with his former girlfriend.

Police said investigations are under way to locate the woman and the suspect.