Arrested for illegally procuring firearms 

• Suspect allegedly provided a pistol and revolver to businessman on request of drug trafficker operating from Dubai
• Suspect police officer had sold two firearms to the businessman
• The Public Security Ministry has given a deadline till July 31 to hand over unlawful firearms

By Nayanajeewa Bandara   

A police sergeant attached to the Colombo Crime Investigation Division was taken into custody yesterday by the Western Province (South) Crime Investigation Unit on suspicion of procuring weapons to a businessman.   
The suspect is alleged to have provided a pistol and a revolver to the businessman at Sylvester road in Ratmalana last month on the request of a drug trafficker operating the racket from Dubai.  

A senior official of the Crime Investigation Unit said when Mulleriyawa police on June 19 checked a suspicious trishaw, an individual in the rear seat had shot the officers and attempted to flee from the scene. However the police officers had with great difficulty arrested him and the driver who had a stock of heroin in his possession.   
Under interrogation the suspects had stated that they received the pistol from a businessman in Ratmalana area. During further investigations the police arrested the suspect businessman and questioned him to find that he got the firearm from the suspect police sergeant.   

Investigations revealed that the suspect police officer had sold two firearms to the businessman.   
Western Province (South) Crime Investigation Unit is conducting further investigations.   
Sri Lanka is currently witnessing a surge in the number of shooting incidents with the Public Security Ministry giving a deadline till July 31 to hand over unlawful firearms.

•  Western Province (South) Crime Investigation Unit is conducting further investigations.