Mt. Lavinia search not linked to terrorist investigations : Police Spokesman

The search operation which was carried out in Mount Lavinia yesterday (May 11) were not done as a part of the ongoing security operations, Police Spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said today.

Addressing a news conference, the Spokesman clarified that yesterday's joint operation by the Police and the Army was carried out upon a tip-off received regarding foreign currency which had been smuggled into the country illegally.

Superintendent Gunasekara explained that a suspect who had transported the money to Mount Lavinia had initially been arrested following which details pertaining to three more suspects had surfaced.

Accordingly, Police had arrested the suspects in Kalutara, Kirulapone, and Kohuwala areas with two cars and foreign currency worth Rs 2.5 million.

The Police Spokesman further said that a forensic audit is to be carried out on the currency to uncover the means through which it had been smuggled into the country.