Rs. 5 b diamond stolen from Pannipitiya found

The Rs. 5 billion worth diamond believed to have been stolen last year from a house of a gem businessman in Errawwela, Pannipitiya has been found from a house in Panadura, the Police Media Spokesman’s Office said.

The Police Spokesman said the diamond was recovered following a search of the house in Keselwatta, Panadura conducted on the information received from a criminal named Kelum Sampath earlier.

Officers of the Peliyagoda Division criminal investigation unit have arrested the suspect and during a search of his house in Pitigala, the police were able to recover Rs. 15 million in cash.

Police also recovered 126 mobile phones, 647 bullets, a grenade and three sets of handcuffs from two houses belonging to Kelum Indika alias Keluma, the main suspect in the theft of the diamond.

On 5 November 2018, a group clad in police uniforms and civilian clothing had forcibly entered the house of a gem businessman in Erawwala, Pannipitiya and stolen the diamond and several valuable gemstones valued at around Rs. 7 billion after assaulting the owner.

The group is believed to be associates of the underworld leader Makandure Madush, who was arrested in Dubai and in remand now for drugs-related charges.