The Negombo police busted a major counterfeit currency racket. Initial investigations had revealed that a couple living at Marawila ran the operation with the help of a Tamil.

Police had recovered 77 counterfeit Rs. 1,000 notes along with a computer and accessories used by the forgers.

A senior police spokesman said that 10 persons including the chief suspect had been arrested in connection with the ongoing investigation. Two of the suspects are from Marawila and the rest residents in the Negombo police division.

The raid followed the detection of a forged Rs 1,000 note at a colour lab at Negombo. Under interrogation, the suspects had admitted that they printed Rs. 500,000 in currency notes on three occasions.