The man who stole the Ranamayura Award of veteran film director Dr. Lester James Peiris has been arrested once again in Kandy on charges of attempting to steal a purse of a woman who came to see the Kumbal Perehara in Kandy.
The suspect had stolen the Ranamayura Award presented at the New Delhi Film Festival to Dr. Peiris for directing the film ‘Gamperaliya’ during Dr. Peiris’s funeral.
After conducting an extensive investigation into the theft, the police identified the suspect and took steps to arrest him.
The 71-year-old suspect, who is listed as a registered criminal in the Police Crimes Division, had attempted to steal a purse from inside a woman’s handbag during the Kumbal Perahara.
Police managed to arrest the suspect with the help of the bystanders.
