THREE NABBED OVER MISSING EXPRESSWAY METAL BARS

Three individuals, who dismantled and removed a part of the protective fence in the Southern Expressway between Matara and Hambantota, had been arrested yesterday by Weeraketiya Police.

The segment is still under construction.

Investigations revealed that one of the suspects was a candidate who contested at the Weeraketiya Pradeshiya Sabha election.

The suspects were residents of Bedigama in Weeraketiya.

They had been arrested during investigations of a complaint received from an official of the Chinese Construction company in charge of the project that the aluminium plates in the protective fence between 38 and 39 km. posts on the Matara – Hambantota Stretch of the Southern Expressway had been stolen.

During investigations, the Police recovered from a scrap iron monger’s store at Angunukolapelessa, 32 aluminium plates and a large stock of other parts of the fence stolen and sold by the suspects.

Representatives of the Chinese Company had told the Police that the stock of aluminium plates and other material were valued more than Rs.2 million.

However, the scrap iron monger stated that he purchased the stock of aluminium plates for Rs. 70,000 each.

The suspects were produced before Walasmulla Magistrate last morning.

OIC Weeraketiya Police CI Rasika Sampath, Sergeant 45065 Lalith, 19157 Premaratne, 9454 Mathangaweera, PCS 4505 Weerasinghe, 72626 Sanjaya, 76424 Nuwan, 62449 Karunaratne, 40643 Chaminda, and 20765 Nandasena carried out the raid on the instructions of ASP L.a. d.ratnawera and SP Laksiri Geethal.