Police have arrested a 71-year-old criminal who stole and sold the prestigious Rana Mayura Award presented to Dr. Lester James Peries at the New Delhi Film Festival. The theft occurred at his funeral home.
The award was given in recognition of his directorial achievement for the film “Gamperaliya.”
The suspect was caught during the first Kumbal Perahara that happened yesterday (21).
Attempting to steal a purse from a woman’s travel bag in the midst of a large crowd, the suspect was swiftly apprehended by alert bystanders. The individual is a resident of the Gampola area.
Investigations are underway, led by Chief Inspector Naleen Indika of the Kandy Police Crime Division.
