’’Pethiyagoda Sanka’’ arrested

Three persons including leading underworld kingpin Kothalawala Liyanage Harsha Chaturanga Perera alias "Pethiyagoda Sanka" have been arrested by the STF during a raid in Mulleriyawa over numerous crimes.

Police said the 32-year old Sanka from Mulleriyawa New Town, had led many major drug trafficking and organized crimes in the country.

During the interrogation of the suspect, he revealed that he gave a foreign-made pistol  to a person engaged in the mining in the Ratnapura area to be hidden.

Accordingly, the STF arrested the suspects and found a T-54 type firearm made in a foreign country, a magazine used for the pistol and 9MM ammunition in the possession of the suspect. STF also arrested another suspect over aiding and abetting to the second suspect. The duo, aged 25 and 40 were residents of Parakaduwa.

All the three suspects were handed over to Eheliyagoda police station for further investigations. (Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya)