Chief Lay custodian of Kataragama arrested and granted bail

By Norman Palihawadane

The Colombo Crime Division yesterday took into custody the Chief Lay custodian of the Kataragama Devale, Somipala T. Ratnayake over a missing gold tray made out of 38 gold sovereigns, donated by a devotee to the shrine.

A senior police officer said Ratnayake had been questioned for nearly three hours by the CCD.

Ratnayake, who was produced before the Tissamaharama Magistrate, was granted bail.

The police, on Dec 19, took into custody Ratnayake’s deputy Saman Priyantha known as ‘Chooti Kapuwa’, who also worked as the store keeper of the Devale. Chooti Kapuwa was enlarged on bail after he was produced before the Tissamaharama Magistrate.