Foreign national, Kattadiya quizzed:

Treasure hunters in the net

by Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

Several people including a foreign national who joined the bandwagon of illicit treasure hunters in the past few months along with the Kattadias have been taken in for questioning by the police and their implements seized while excavating treasures in various parts of the country, Police Media Spokesman, SP Sajeewa Medawatte said.

Acting on a tip off on Friday, a police party from Rattotta swooped on a gang of illicit treasure hunters in Kandenuwara while excavating treasure.

Six males including a British national and two females were taken in for questioning by the Rattota police.

The 65-year-old British national was a resident of Kadawatte Road, Dehiwela while the other five males and two women suspects were from Wellampitiya, Gothatuwa and Norwood. The van in which they travelled to the site and the implements used for digging were seized by the police.

The suspects will be produced before the Matale Magistrate after investigations are completed. Meanwhile, a police party from the Thalawa police station swooped on those engaged in an illicit treasure hunt at Batuwatte Jayagaha Ella on Friday and seized a priceless Buddha statue measuring 13 inches in length weighing over three kilograms in the possession of the treasure hunters.

The gilded Buddha statue is believed to have archaeological value, the police said.

Two suspects including a bhikkhu from Mawathagama and Ambanpola have been taken in for questioning in this connection, police said. The suspects will be produced before the Thambuttegama Magistrate courts, police said.