Lt. Colonel Caught in Arms Deal with Underworld Figure

COLOMBO (News 1st); A Sri Lanka Army Lieutenant Colonel has been taken into custody by the Western Province North Crimes Division over allegations of illegally selling military-grade ammunition to a member of an organized crime syndicate.

The arrest follows an investigation into 'Commando Salintha', a suspect currently in remand custody, who is believed to be affiliated with a criminal gang. 

Police say the officer in question served as Salintha’s superior during their time in the army, where Salintha reportedly operated as his assistant.

The suspect, a 46-year-old resident of Galle, was identified as the commanding officer of the Pallai Nagar Army Camp in Mallavi. 

According to police sources, he is accused of selling over 250 rounds of T56 ammunition and depositing more than Rs. 650,000 into his personal bank account from the transaction.

The arrest was made following revelations from interrogations of another suspect, known as 'Walas Kata', who is also in custody. 

Based on this information, the Lieutenant Colonel was summoned for questioning this morning (11) and subsequently detained.