Ex-Minister Duminda Dissanayake further remanded over gold-plated assault rifle discovery
June 05, Colombo (LNW): Duminda Dissanayake, a former cabinet minister and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s organiser for the Anuradhapura District, will remain in custody until June 19, following a ruling by the Mount Lavinia Magistrate’s Court.
Dissanayake was taken into custody on May 23 after authorities uncovered a gold-plated T-56 assault rifle at a residential property in Colombo’s Havelock Town. The weapon, which raised serious concerns due to its customised nature and potential symbolic significance, was discovered during a broader operation involving security services.
The Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) is currently leading inquiries into the case, focusing on how the weapon came to be at the location and whether it is connected to any illicit or politically motivated activities.
Dissanayake was initially remanded a day after his arrest, with investigators citing the need for extended custody to probe deeper into the weapon’s provenance and any possible networks associated with it.
