EX-CRICKETER'S WIFE AMONG 11 ARRESTED

Former cricketer's wife
in gold racket
 with police ASP on pension

     Peliyagoda Police have been successful in breaking a racket about to be transacted and closed. A group of 11 individuals have been involved in the racket which concerned a gold deal amounting to Rs.5,000 lakhs. The deal has been directed by Sandamali Tharanga Dias, wife of former vice captain of the Sri Lankan team Roy Dias and Sri Lal Ananda Raj Ranasinghe, a retired ASP on pension. They had tried to engage in this racket involving money by saying that because the government has no funds, 100 kilograms of gold amounting to 5,000 lakhs of rupees has been put on sale and that anyone willing can purchase this stock of gold.

     On a tip off received by the Intelligence Unit of the Army, a raid had been conducted and this organised group of individuals have been taken into custody.

     After publicising that the gold was on sale, a team of police who introduced themselves as buyers had called the former cricketer's wife and had inquired about the gold transaction. At that moment she had mentioned that in order to discuss the deal they should come over to her house with the money. But the police who acted strategically had replied saying that they are unable to come to her house and to come to a hotel. Later, while the cricketer's wife had come to a hotel so arranged regarding the deal, the police officers who disguised themselves as businessmen had brought forged notes with them to the value of Rs.100,000 and had gone to the five-star hotel named by them. The disguised police officers who were disguised had handed over the money to purchase a part of the gold. The lady concerned had made arrangements to issue a cheque on behalf  of the cash until the gold was bought. There had been 3 other individuals there at that moment who too were connected to this organised gang.

     The police officers who immediately got into action had taken the lady and the main suspect connected to this fraud into custody. Information about the wife of the former cricketer was revealed on questioning after arrest. Tharanga Dias the 56 year old lady under arrest is the wife of former vice captain of the Sri Lankan cricket team. He is presently a cricket coach in Malaysia and it is revealed that he has no connection with this racket where his wife is involved.

     After extensive questioning of the suspects, the Peliyagoda Crime Division have been able to arrest a leader of this organised gang, a retired ASP. Other suspects who are connected to this massive fraud are to be arrested soon.

    The 11 suspects were produced before the Fort Magistrate Courts day-before-yesterday and was ordered to be remanded until today (06th).