Rs.1.2 million robbed from businessman in Weligama

Three men on a motorbike robbed Rs 1.2 million from a businessman at Denipitiya, Weligama. Police said the victim had lodged a complaint that the threeunidentified men had blocked his way claiming to be from the Special Task Force (STF), before they fled with the money. 

The 49-year-old businessman is a wholesale vegetable trader and had been walking home on foot after parking his lorry at the Denipitiya market when he was ambushed by the alleged robbers. Claiming to be from the STF, the men had stated they had received information that the businessman was transporting drugs and that they needed to search him. 

Suspicious of the so-called STF personnel, the businessman had insisted that the men go to the police station with him, whereupon they had grabbed the bag containing the Rs.1.2 million the businessman had with him and fled. 

Weligama Police are investigating. 

On Tuesday, a group of four armed robbers also held up a Sanasa Bank branch at Parawahera, Matara and escaped with money after shooting a woman there.  

By Krishan Jeewaka Jayaruk 

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