Video: Colonial passport sold at Rs. 30mn

Seven people, who are alleged to have stolen a colonial era passport issued to a Sub Inspector attached to the then Ceylon Police Force, were arrested by the Kollupitiya police while they were attempting to sell it for Rs.30 million.

The policemen pretending to be prospective buyers had arrested the suspects near a private bank in Colombo 7.

The seven suspects were produced before Colombo Fort Magistrate Thilina Gamage and released on a surety bail of one million rupees each.

The Kollupitiya police told Court that the passport now believed to be of antique value had the Number 2887 and had been issued to Richard Alexander Cameron, a Sub Inspector of the Ceylon Police Force. According to the passport, the SI had been born on April 26, 1894. Police said the cover page of the 32-page passport had the ledgend, “British Passport-Colony of Ceylon”.   

The Kollupitiya police had begun investigations on a complaint made by one of SI Cameron’s relatives that a colonial era passport which was in the possession of the family had been stolen by the suspects. Meanwhile, police informed Court that they would obtain a report from the archeological department to ascertain the antique value of the passport. (Lakmal Sooriyagoda)