News
Pugoda land fraud main suspect arrested at Colombo airport
The main suspect in the Pugoda land fraud, Madhu Pushpika (36), was arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport on Friday (6) at 8.45 p.m., consequent to a court order obtained by the Gampaha police for same, to conduct further investigations. The suspect was remanded till September 12.
Another suspect whom Pushpika revealed was involved in forging deeds, was also arrested. Pushpika reportedly told police that she shared the proceeds from the land sales with this suspect man, who denied the accusation.
Pushpika and her mother, Lokuhapuarachilage Lilawathi fled to India when the buyers realised that there were several owners to the land they bought. The Sunday Times learns that Pushpika returned to Sri Lanka to utilise Rs 800,000 of the proceeds, to start a business in Sri Lanka. The 5.5-acre land known as Prapathakanda in Ovitigama, and owned by Pushpika’s mother and an 85-year-old aunt, Lokuhapuarachilage Rathmawathi, was sold to more than 40 buyers since 2007. We learnt that the mother and the aunt are retired teachers, while Madhu Pushpika was a graduate.
According to Gampaha police, Pushpika had realised a total of Rs. 37.5 million by the multiple sales.
Following complaints made by duped buyers from Nugegoda, Maharagama, Kosgama, Homagama, Pugoda and Moratuwa, the CID is investigating the land deals made by the women.
Gampaha police also told the Sunday Times that further investigations are under way to ascertain if Pushpika received any assistance from anybody in the District Land Registry Office, for her fraudulent transactions.
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