Rs. 6.2M Sniper Rifle Released to Army on Rs. 200K Bond

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Colombo Magistrate’s Court today ordered an investigation to determine whether the sniper rifle recovered from two commandos outside the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters had been used in other crimes.

The order was issued when the case was taken up before Acting Magistrate Kasun Dissanayake.

Following the completion of the Government Analyst’s examination, the Magistrate directed that the sniper rifle be released to the Sri Lanka Army on a Rs. 200,000 bond, with instructions that the weapon must be produced before the CID whenever required for investigations.

The CID informed the court that the rifle is valued at Rs. 6.2 million.

Two suspects were arrested last Sunday near the Harbour Master’s Office, close to the port gate adjacent to the CID building, while in possession of the sniper rifle. 

They were dressed in civilian clothes and had the weapon wrapped in a black cloth. 

The CID told the court that the men carried no identification documents.

Intelligence reports had indicated a possible plot to target senior CID officials using sniper weapons, prompting the arrests.

When the suspects were produced in court on Monday, a legal representative from the Army appeared, stating that the two men were Army Commandos engaged in a hostage rescue rehearsal inside the port premises. 

He explained that they were returning from special training and entered through an alternate route because the main gate was closed, leading to their arrest.

The lawyer further told the court that the commandos had authorization to carry the sniper rifle.