by Shamindra Ferdinando
Police yesterday arrested the managing director of a private firm subsequent to the recovery of two T-56 magazines and 53 rounds of T-56 ammunition from his Kirulapone residence. He is in his thirties, police said, adding that they have already recorded his statement.

The arrest was made by the Colombo Crime Division (CCD).

Police raided the suspect’s home after a person described as a heroin addict in CCD custody claimed that he robbed a T-56 from the residence of the executive early this year. Subsequently he had given it to another person and in return consumed heroin worth Rs. 1500, police said. "We succeeded in arresting the heroin dealer and recovered the T-56," police said, describing the suspect as a close associate of Nawala Nihal, considered one of the most powerful gang leaders responsible for scores of underworld-linked killings over a period of time.

Under interrogation, the heroin addict has claimed that he entered the company executive’s residence when he was away with his family. But after seeing the T-56 behind an almirah he had taken it and fled the house. But he hadn’t found the two magazines and the 53 rounds of ammunition. Police said that he could have easily sold the weapon for about Rs 35,000 but instead settled for heroin worth a mere Rs. 1500.

SP Sarath Lugoda in charge of the CCD directs the investigation.

Police wants to find out how the executive managed to get an assault rifle and whether he was involved with the underworld. The possibility of the suspect obtaining the weapon directly from a security source could not be ruled out.