'Ganemulla Sanjeewa' and others released from Arms Trafficking Case

COLOMBO (News 1st): Colombo Chief Magistrate Buddika Sri Ragala on Monday (Apr. 12) ordered to release 11 suspects including notorious underworld gang member 'Ganemulla Sanjeewa' from an arms trafficking case. The case was filed against 15 suspects on charges for secretly transporting weapons including Claymore Bombs and T-56 firearms that were buried in the North-Eastern parts of the country by the LTTE during the civil war period, to Colombo and other urban areas. The charges included the sale and purchase of such weapons to underworld gang members. The Colombo Chief Magistrate issued the order taking into account the facts presented by the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD). The CCD on Monday (12) informed the court, the Attorney-General had instructed on the lack of evidence to file charges against the 11 suspects, and thereby, measures will be taken in the future to file charges against the remaining four suspects. Upon conducting investigations based on information retrieved from a member of the LTTE arrested in Wattala for the possession of a firearm, the Colombo Crimes Division arrested 15 suspects including 'Ganemulla Sanjeewa.' Further investigations were conducted for close to 2.5 years, by detaining the suspects and placing them under remand custody.