Eighteen treasure hunters fined Rs. 4.5mn

A group of 18 suspects who were arrested on the charge of treasure hunting and aiding and abetting it were fined

Rs. 4.5 million by Maho Chief Magistrate Trinity Rajapakse when they pleaded guilty. Each of them were fined Rs.250,000 and ordered to pay Rs.50,000 first and the balance on January 29, 2019.

The suspects were digging up treasure in Ambanpola North Grama Niladhari area when the police arrested 17 of them and were remanded while another evaded arrest. Police Constable Upul Janaka 36320, who evaded arrest later surrendered to police. He stood charged with aiding and abetting the offence.

The suspects R.M. Tusitha Ratnayaka of Wanduragala in Kurunegala, Anjana Bhawantha Wadugedara of Asirigama in Rajangana, H.K. Madusanka of Ihala Thanduwa, Awissawella, K.mohamed Haniz of Miraniya Street, Maho, W.nishantha Sandjeewa of Sirimapura , Rajanagana, H.r.wasantha Pushpakumara of Padukka Road, Godagama, Meerigama, Ahamed Rameesh of Mabola, Wattala, N.G. Jude Shrimal of Dikkumbura , Katugastota, D.M .Pushpakumaa of Nelumpathwewa, Road Aambanpola, R.M. Tikiri Banda of Ambanpola, Sulthan Abdul Cadar of Vijeya Avenue, Dehiwala. Ramachandran Ganesh Murthi of Nendala, Wattala, D.M. Semasinghe Dissanayake of Ambanpola, M.dickson Silva of Hakbodiya, Beliatta, S. Majardeen of Anuradhapura Road, Ambanpola, M.W. Aruna Kasun of Kongala West in Hakmana, and Noor Mohamed Gani of Randenigama, Maho, had been on remand for more than two months.

OIC Ambanpola Police CI Pathmakumara , IP Chandrasiri, Sergeant 36787 Jayaratne had carried out investigations and arrested the suspects.

Attorneys at Law Udaya Rajapakse and Manoj Polgampola appeared for the suspects.