A suspect who was attempting to sell two gold plated Buddha statues and six individuals who had arrived to purchase the statues were arrested by police today morning in the 10th Mile Post area in Sooriyawewa.
The suspects were preparing to purchase a statue 17 inches tall and weighing 20kg and a smaller 8 inch tall Buddha statue for Rs. 1,580,000 when police, acting on a tip-off, raided the location and apprehended them.
Upon being interrogated the man who was to sell the Buddha statues had claimed that he had obtained them from a Buddhist monk in Bandarawela, police said.
The six suspects who had arrived to purchase the statues are said to be from Galle, Hikkaduwa and Panadura areas.
Sooriyawewa Police are conducting further investigations. (AdaDerana)
