Two naval officers who kidnapped and killed two women using a white van have been arrested after 18 years.

Two retired female naval petty officers connected to the incident where two women were abducted in a white van and murdered in Trincomalee 18 years ago, were arrested on the 20th by the Mass Robbery Investigation Division of the Criminal Investigation Department.

Those arrested are a 42-year-old retired female naval petty officer residing in Aluthwatta, Chilaw, and another retired female naval petty officer who resided on Railway Station Road, Haputale.

On January 13, 2008, two women, Mary Delicia and Sasikumar Thenmoli, who resided in the Trincomalee area, were abducted in this manner. Subsequently, they were imprisoned in an underground detention cell called 'Sansite' located at the Trincomalee Naval Base, subjected to cruel torture and sexual abuse, and then murdered, an investigation has revealed, a senior CID officer stated.

Further investigations into the two arrested suspect officers are actively underway, and following these investigations, the Criminal Investigation Department is making arrangements to present them before the Trincomalee Magistrate's Court.