Colombo — A Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) member of the Kundasale Pradeshiya Sabha, along with two accomplices, was arrested by Nuwara Eliya police for attempting to sell a gem valued at Rs. 500 million without the required permit.
The trio, residing at a lodge in the Labukele area, claimed the gem would bring prosperity to its owner. Acting on a police tip-off, authorities deployed a decoy posing as a buyer who successfully negotiated the price down to Rs. 1 million.
Police have seized the gem and plan to send it to the National Gem and Jewellery Authority for verification to determine if it is a genuine precious stone or a counterfeit.
The suspects, aged between 40 and 50, are residents of Wattegama and Madawala. Police confirmed none of them possessed a valid permit issued by the National Gem and Jewellery Authority for dealing in gems.
The accused were scheduled to appear before the Nuwara Eliya Magistrate’s Court for further legal proceedings.
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