Siyambalapitiya involved in museum theft

Thursday, 19 April 2012

A senior journalist at the Divaina newspaper told us that a senior CID official had told one of the journalists in his newspaper that there were suspicions over the involvement of Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya who is a supporter of MP Namal Rajapaksa in the theft of swords and gold coins at the National Museum.

He said that the IGP had ordered the CID not to record any statements about the matter.

He observed that although the newspaper had prepared a special report on the museum theft, the head of the newspaper and organization and Chairman of Sri Lanka Telecom, Nimal Welgama has ordered the removal of certain parts in the story that refers to the minister and government politicians.

The CID official has told the Divaina journalist that the respective government politician had visited the National museum a few days prior to the theft and had shown keen interest in the swords at the museum.

The Assistant Director of the Museum who is in-charge of the area that was robbed it is learnt is a close friend of National Heritage Minister Jagath Balasuriya’s wife, Southern Province Governor, Kumari Balasuriya and has given contradictory statements to the investigators.

Kumari Balasuriya is a close relative of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.