Former minister Douglas Devananda was remanded until January 9 by a magistrate on Friday after being arrested in connection with the disappearance of a firearm issued to him by the Sri Lanka Army for personal protection, police said.
Devananda was taken into custody following investigations into a firearm recovered by police, based on information provided by an associate of deceased organised criminal Makandure Madush.
Police investigations revealed that the firearm had been used in several murders and was later identified as a weapon issued by the Sri Lanka Army.
Further inquiries showed that Devananda had been issued 13 T56 assault rifles and six revolvers by the army in 2001 for security purposes. At the time, he had provided a written undertaking assuring that none of the firearms issued to him would be used for any illegal activity.
The Criminal Investigation Department said investigations are continuing to determine how the weapon ended up in the possession of underworld figures and whether additional offences have been committed. (Newswire)