Duminda Dissanayake arrested over gold-plated T-56 found at Havelock City

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya

Former Anuradhapura District MP Duminda Dissanayake was arrested by the Terrorism Investigation Division yesterday over the recovery of a gold-plated T56 weapon from the Havelock City housing complex in Colombo.   

Police Spokesman SSP Buddhika Manathunga said he was arrested at his residence in Thimbirigasyaya.   

Earlier, two women had been arrested following the recovery of the gold-coloured T-56 assault rifle.   

Police said the discovery was made after a security officer reported that a 68-year-old female resident was seen placing a suspicious-looking bag into her vehicle.   

Acting on the tip-off, officers from the Wellawatte Police conducted a search of the premises and found the rifle inside a bag placed on the back seat of the woman’s car. The suspects, aged 40 and 68, are residents of Battaramulla and Colombo 6, respectively. They were remanded after being produced before the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court.   

Police investigations have revealed that the gold-plated T56 firearm, which was found in the bag of the 68-year-old woman residing in the Havelock City housing complex, belonged to former minister Duminda Dissanayake.   

It was reported that the former minister had sent this firearm to the woman’s house at Havelock City through his cook a few months ago. Police said a special police team went to Avissawella to arrest the former minister’s cook.   

Police have further revealed that the former minister is a close friend of the woman. It was reported that the woman accepted the bag containing the weapon without knowing that it contained a T56 firearm.