Man falls to death trying to steal gem from Seenigama Devala statue

• The police found the victim’s body collapsed at the foot of the statue inside the ancient Devalaya on the islet when they opened the doors yesterday morning

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana and Hemantha de Silva (Ambalangoda)

A man who tried to remove a precious stone affixed to the forehead of Devol Deviyo (deity) of ancient Seenigama Maha Devalaya, which is situated on an offshore islet in Seenigama, fell to his death on Monday night. The police found the victim’s body collapsed at the foot of the statue inside the ancient Devalaya on the islet when they opened the doors yesterday morning. The male who was to be identified was found only in his underwear, and his face was covered with a T-shirt as a mask. It is suspected that the thief had swum to the islet last night and had broken into the Devalaya before climbing onto the statue to remove the precious stone.

However, while struggling to remove the jewel, he had fallen from the statue and collapsed on the ground, sustaining fatal head injuries.

Meetiyagoda Police conducting investigations are monitoring the Devalaya CCTV cameras to further determine the nature of the incident.