The Peliyagoda Police who conducted investigations regarding the theft of a stock of cuttle fish and prawns worth over Rs. 500,000 which had been stored in a cold storage room at the Peliyagoda fish market complex ready to be sold to hotels, have arrested on suspicion, two businessmen of the fish market complex and the owner of a restaurant day before yesterday (22).
The owner of this stock of seafood in his complaint made to the police has said that this theft had taken place between 5 pm on March 20 and 8 am on March 21.
Eleven boxes containing 110 kilos of prawns and 18 boxes containing 180 kilos of cuttle fish had been stolen.
During an investigation carried out by officer of the Peliyagoda Police, it has become apparent that a businessman who brought stocks of fish from Mannar to the Peliyagoda fish market complex had broken the locks of the cold storage room and engaged in the theft.
It has been revealed during investigations that he had indicated that the stolen cuttle fish and prawns had been brought from Mannar and sold them within the Peliyagoda fish market complex itself.
Three persons who had purchased the stolen seafood have been taken into custody.
Police said the businessman from Mannar who stole the seafood has fled and is in hiding and that investigations are underway to arrest him.