Stealing T-56 firearm from Sigiriya SLAF base Two including airman caught

• The firearms had gone missing when he was resting while on duty at night in a security booth at Sigiriya Air Force base

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya  

Two suspects including an airman of the Sigiriya Air Force Base have been arrested by the Homicide and Organized Crime Investigation Division for stealing a T-56 firearm and two magazines containing 60 rounds of ammunition from the camp.  

The Sigiriya Police had received a complaint that a T-56 duty firearm, two magazines and magazine holder which were in the possession of an airman have gone missing when he was resting while on duty at night in a security booth at Sigiriya Air Force base, on November 4 last year.  Later, the investigations were handed over to the Homicide and Organized Crime Investigation Division for further progress.   Accordingly, the magazine holder was found near the air force base and it was discovered that the firearm was stolen by an airman in the same base.   

Based on that information, the suspect airman was arrested at the Sigiriya Air Force Base and another person who assisted him was also arrested in Ridigama.  
The arrested suspects, aged 32 and 37, are residents of Kurunegala and Ridigama.  

Police said after the theft, the main suspect erased the serial number of the weapon with the use of a  grinder and the police found the stolen weapon and two magazines containing 60 rounds of ammunition from a place adjacent to the main suspect’s house.   

The suspects are to be produced before the Dambulla Magistrate’s Court.