Sri Lanka police arrest another suspect of Museum robbery, recover more stolen artifacts

Sri Lanka Police Tuesday night have arrested a fourth suspect of the burglary at the country's National Museum in Colombo while conducting investigations into the arrest of the main suspect.
The police have recovered 13 ancient notes, five gold coins, a silver coin and two pieces of gold in the fourth suspect's possession. Police media spokesman and Senior Superintendent of Police Ajith Rohana has said that the most precious item of the looted stash, a gemstone studded ring of King Dutugamunu, has been found in the possession of the fourth suspect. The gold content of the ring had been dissolved without any damage to the gem, the Spokesman has revealed. While arresting a suspect connected to a separate incident, the police have found some of the artifacts stolen from the Museum at the suspect's house. A sword, a hilt of a knife and two coverings of a walking stick of Nugewala Adikaram were found in his possession. The police Monday night arrested two women and a man suspected of the burglary along with some stolen artifacts. The main suspect Lansage Priyantha Mendis, a resident of Siyambalape remains at large. The Police have offered a 500,000 rupees award for information leading to the arrest of the suspect. The arrests were made after five months of systematic investigation by the police, the spokesman has said. Senior DIG in charge of the Western Province Anura Senanayake has criticized the attempts by some groups to use the unraveling of the robbery for political purposes to attack the government and ruling party.