Three arrested with gold-plated statue

• Suspects handed over to Mullaitivu  police

By Romesh Madusanka

A gold-plated statue of archaeological significance was seized and three suspects who attempted to sell it were arrested by the STF in Mullaitivu.

The suspects were transporting it by van when the police lay in ambush on intelligence received and arrested them.  A senior STF official said the 26.5cm tall statue weighing   6.188 kilogrammes would have been dug out from an archaeological site.The three suspects were 21, 41 and 54 years of age and residents of Hatton, Dehiwala and Kotagala areas. The STF had handed over the statue and suspects to the Mullaitivu  police for further action.