By Norman Palihawadane
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake yesterday said a businessman, arrested with a caches of firearms, ammunition and hand grenades, had links to a politician, as authorities continued investigations into the seizure.
Addressing a public gathering in Badulla, the President said the suspect was among those being investigated in connection with operations targeting organised crime and that authorities were aware of his political connections.
He also referred to a video footage allegedly showing the suspect firing at people in the Weliweriya area, describing it as an example of the dangerous activities associated with individuals possessing illegal firearms.
The 38-year-old businessman, who is reportedly the owner of a cinema, and a relative of a politician, was arrested following a search conducted by officers of the Colombo District Crime Division at the cinema on Hanwella Road, in the Kirindiwela Police Division, on October 17.
Police said the search had been carried out based on information received by investigators.
The weapons and ammunition seized included two foreign-made pistols, a revolver, a foreign-made repeater firearm and a foreign-made 12-bore firearm.
Police also recovered hundreds of rounds of ammunition, including 398 rounds of 12-bore ammunition, 278 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 49 rounds of .32-calibre ammunition and 3,083 rounds of .22-calibre ammunition, along with two live hand grenades.
The suspect, a resident of the Millathe area, is being questioned as investigations continue.
The Police Media Division said police would seek a detention order to facilitate further questioning of the suspect and advance the investigation.
The Colombo District Crime Division is conducting further investigations into the cache of weapons and the suspect’s alleged activities and connections.