Another suspect in Sandagala theft arrested

Another suspect involved in the theft of the monument known as Sandagala in the Kundasale Udamaluwa Archaeological Reserve, weighing more than a thousand kilos, was arrested by Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers on Wednesday (29).

The suspect named T.A. Withanage (60), a resident of Gampola Athgala Lakshaya Watte has been arrested. CID officers have not been able to find the stolen Sandagala monument so far.

Eight people, including a millionaire businessman and a member of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna of the Kundasale Pradeshiya Sabha, have been arrested so far. The vehicles used to steal and take away the Sandagala and the vehicles used for travelling by the suspects were taken into police custody as well. The CID said that among these vehicles is a boom truck, a canter truck, a Defender jeep and two motorcycles.

The first two suspects involved in this robbery had surrendered to the Kegalle police and the mastermind of this robbery, the millionaire businessman and a PS member had surrendered to the Teldeniya court. Two others were later arrested.

Accordingly, the eighth person involved in this theft was arrested on Wednesday. The monument named Sandagala was stolen on December 13 last year. Police said that there are several other people involved in this theft who are to be arrested.