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29 March 2024

High-living woman dupes victims out of millions

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By Correspondent

Sri Lankan police is investigating a woman who allegedly tricked many people into parting with millions of rupees, the ‘Sunday Times’ has reported.

The suspect, who lived lavishly, is alleged to have befriended would-be victims, sometimes visiting their homes to persuade them to part with their money, according to complaints received by the Mirihana and Kohuwala police who said most of the suspect’s alleged fraudulent activities had taken place in Mirihana, Kohuwala, Maharagama and Athurugirya areas.

The suspect is alleged to have duped a couple living in Maharagama police area of Rs1.5 million, after giving them post-dated cash cheques that turned out to be duds.

She also posed as a garment factory owner, later found to be non-existent and also known to be closely connected to a top businessman in the country with political affiliation. 

A Special Crime Investigation Bureau (SCIB) official said the Mirihana police is gathering more evidence such as bank statements.

“The suspect was assisted in her operations by a woman accomplice who is an executive in a leading insurance company in Nugegoda,” police said.

The insurance executive is thought to have been the suspect’s adviser since the latter was relatively less educated. However, a spokesman for the insurance company said that they cannot be held responsible for the executive’s activities since she had a clean track record in her dealings with the company.

Suicide threat by Buddhist monks

Buddhist monks attached to the Sinhala Ravaya (Sinhalese Voice) would commit suicide if the government ignores their 16- point list of proposals submitted to President Mahinda Rajapakse, Ven. Puliathe Sudharma Thero, deputy chairman of the organisation, has said.

The ‘thero’ said that a meeting to discuss the proposals has been sought from the President and a positive response is awaited, The Sunday Leader’ reported.

Among the proposals is that the State Constitution should be followed by all religions in Sri Lanka, clothes which are a threat to national security should be banned, state and private institutions should be closed for ‘poya’ (a Buddhist religious day) each month days, respect for Buddhist teachings and ban on alcohol, drugs, casinos and brothels.

The ‘thero’ said the monk who set himself on fire in Kandy on Friday is a member of their organization. He said monks are not scared to commit suicide if their 16-point proposals fail to get a good response from the government.

The CID recently had questioned the Sinhala Ravaya about a protest staged outside the ‘No Limit’ store in Maharagama, a suburb of Colombo. Homes of some members of the organization had been searched by the CID, the thero added.