Dubai arrests: CID sleuth going to UAE

The Defence Ministry has asked Police Chief Pujith Jayasundara to send a Criminal Investigation Department inspector to Dubai to obtain details regarding the arrest of 31 Sri Lankans, including underworld gang leader Makandure Madush.

A senior Police officer said the decision was taken this week at a meeting at

Continued from Page 1 the Defence Ministry after the ministry turned down a Police proposal to send a team to Dubai.

"The task of the officer will be to find out the specific charges, their involvement in other criminal activities and details relating to the ongoing case against them, the officer said.

The Sri Lankans were arrested after a widely publicised raid on a hotel.

He said the Foreign Ministry had received details of charges against 10 of the suspects.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry yesterday confirmed that a judicial investigation is underway regarding the 31 suspects in the United Arab Emirates.

“The Sri Lankan Embassy and the Consulate General in Dubai have been liaising with the UAE authorities who have informed us that the arrests had taken place due to the violation of UAE laws," the ministry's spokesperson Saroja Sirisena said.

“Until the investigation is completed and the suspects are charged, it will not be appropriate for the ministry to comment on the case. We are also working closely with the Defence Ministry in this regard," she said.