Last Saturday’s recovery of a galkattas, 90 rounds of T 56 ammunition, an expired passport and several photographs near the official residence of SLAF Chief Air Marshal Roshan Gunatilleke at Keppetipola Mawatha has revealed the mystery of the disappearance of a pouch, in 2001, belonging to SSP Sarath Beddewella during his deployment in the East Timor under UN command.

"I have been wondering what had happened to my pouch," Beddewella told The Island yesterday. Fielding questions, the officer said someone robbed a set of photographs, a UN badge and some souvenirs he had received from other foreign members of the UN mission and his old passport shortly before the Sri Lankan contingent returned to the country.

"Although, I never suspected anyone, the recovery of my belongings within the high security zone at Keppetipola Mawatha is evidence, the robber had been with me in the East Timor," he said. An angry Beddewela said the other items didn’t belong to him. The other items, too, would have been thrown away by the same person or a relative of his, he said.

Police have already identified the person who had thrown away the bag. Police identified the suspect as the wife of the police officer who had been on the UN assignment with Beddewela, a Chief Inspector at the time of his deployment in East Timor. (SF)