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The three seized vehicles that were handed over by the Walana Anti Corruption Unit to the Pinwatta Police are being investigated presently by the Government Analyst after having informed the Court about the vehicles in Police custody now.
The Walana Central Anti Corruption Unit recovered an illegally imported Mitsubishi jeep looking similar to an Army vehicle which had been assembled using forged documents and two Land Rover jeeps.
A former PC member Amal Silva from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) was arrested in the Pinwatta area in Panadura on Tuesday (December 31) night for the possession of this illegally imported luxury vehicle by the Walana Central Anti Corruption Unit.
Further investigations led to the finding of two more Land Rover jeeps that were parked in a house in the Ratmalana area on Wednesday (1). Police investigations revealed that the suspect had used fake documents to obtain number plates for the three luxury vehicles that were seized. Police said that the three vehicles in question have been used with license plates from vehicles that were removed from Government institutions and declared unfit for use.
It has been revealed that the suspect was previously involved in selling an illegally assembled jeep to the late former Deputy Minister Palitha Thewarapperuma that was seized in 2011 by the Police and is currently being examined on a case filed in the Mathugama Court.
The three vehicles worth about Rs.70 million had been handed over to the Pinwatta Police and the Walana Anti Corruption Unit is conducting further investigations. Police further said that the suspect, the former SLPP Western Provincial Council Member was released after recording a lengthy statement.
Varuna Dayaratne
