COLOMBO: Information has come to light with regard to a defrauding of gold meant for the ‘Sanda Hiru Seya’ Stupa that was constructed at massive costs during the previous regime.
The gold in question was seized when Admiral Jayantha Perera was the Navy commander, by a Navy boat from gold smugglers. First the Navy and then the Customs was given charge of the seized gold. On an order by the defence ministry that the gold was needed for depositing at the Stupa, the gold was taken to the Welisara Navy camp.
Thereafter, the Navy handed over eight kilos of gold to be deposited in the Stupa, but the remaining amount, of around 40 kilos, had gone missing.
During an investigation, the FCID recorded a statement from the ex-Navy commander. Reliable sources say a powerful political hand was behind this fraud.
