Copper wires worth 4.2 million at the Central Bank have been cut and stolen by contract employees.

Fort Police stated that six employees of a contract company were arrested for cutting and stealing copper wires worth nearly Rs. 4.2 million from the lightning conductor system installed on the upper floor of the 16-story old building of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, located in a high-security zone. The police have recovered nearly 30 kg of the stolen copper wires, and the complaint states that the stolen copper wires were 288 meters long.

A director of the Management Department of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka had lodged a complaint with the Fort Police regarding the theft on the 27th of last month. Immediately commencing investigations into the complaint, Fort Police OIC Chief Inspector Dileepa C. Perera sent a team led by Crime Investigation Division OIC Inspector Chaminda Kurabage to the bank premises. During the initial investigations, it was revealed that a contract had been awarded in March 2025 for painting the exterior of the bank's old building.

It was further revealed that three buildings belong to the old building complex, and the lightning conductor system covers all three buildings. The complaint noted that the stolen copper wires were 288 meters long. Subsequently, upon examining the CCTV footage from the building, it showed three individuals together cutting the lightning conductor system.

Following a lengthy investigation based on the footage, the police stated that six employees of the contract company responsible for painting the building were arrested. During questioning of the suspects, the stolen copper wires were found to have been sold for a low price to old iron collection points in Kandana, Peliyagoda, and Kirulapana areas.

There are nearly 70 security officers, including retired officers from the Tri-Forces Police, within the bank premises, and a police post is also located there. A senior police officer stated that police investigations further revealed that the suspects had cut the copper wires of the lightning conductor on several occasions, concealed them in small pieces around their waists, and taken them out of the bank premises.

The arrested suspects are residents of areas such as Wattala, Hunupitiya, Mannarama, and Kirulapana. A senior police officer further stated that several other employees of the contract company would be arrested in connection with the theft, and further investigations are underway to recover the remaining stock of copper wires. Investigations are being conducted by Chief Inspector Dileepa C. Perera, OIC of Fort Police, and Chief Inspector Chandana Kumara, OIC of the Various Complaints Division, under the guidance of Senior Superintendent of Police Mahesh Kumarasinghe, Colombo Central Division, and Superintendent of Police (02) Minura Senarath. The investigation team includes Inspector Chaminda Kurabage, OIC of the Crime Investigation Division, Sub-Inspector Sankha Samaradiwakara, and Police Constables (82855) Chinthaka and (85363) Bandara.