Missing 8 kilos of Gold – Probe by FCID

 

The FCID is investigating an incident in which eight kilos of gold gone missing and eight kilos returned, out of 45.03 kilos seized by the Navy off the northern seas on 01 October 2014 and handed over to the Customs on the following day, ‘Silumina’ reports. Within 12 hours after the handover, the then Navy chief Vice Admiral S.A.M.J. Perera had asked the director general of Customs to return eight kilos to be used on a Buddha statue to be deposited in Sandahiru Stupa.

The Navy chief’s letter to the Customs DG said he was making the request on the instructions of the defence and urban development ministry. On the very next day, the Customs DG sanctioned the return of the gold, although the customs  ordinance clear states no item handed over to the Customs should be released within 30 days for any reason.

The FCID is investigating as to what powers the Navy chief and the defence ministry had to make such a request. Only the Buddha Sasana ministry and the archaeology department could request so.

Courtesy; Srilanka Mirror