A Lieutenant Colonel has been arrested on charges of supplying weapons and ammunition to underworld figures and handed over to the CID for further investigations.
The officer is alleged to have sold more than 1,000 T-56 live rounds and several Army-issued firearms to “Commando Salintha,” bodyguard of underworld leader “Kehelbaddara Padme.”
The arrest was made by the Peliyagoda Crimes Division, under the supervision of its Director Rohan Olugala and Chief Inspector Linton Silva.
Investigations revealed that the ammunition had been supplied at Salintha’s request and later reached the hands of another underworld figure, “Walaskata,” currently in custody of the Crimes Division.
The Lieutenant Colonel, who had been serving as a commanding officer at a military camp in Mallavi, Jaffna, was identified by Walaskata during questioning. He was taken into custody when he arrived at the Crimes Division to make a statement.
by Norman Palihawadane and Hemantha Randunu 