The Officer-in-Charge of the Ampara Mahaoya Special Task Force camp has been arrested on charges of aiding and abetting illegal excavation, NewsFirst reported on Saturday.
The arrest marks a rare case of a senior STF officer being taken into custody for involvement in illegal activity. The Mahaoya area in Ampara district is known for its proximity to archaeological sites and ancient ruins, where illegal treasure hunting and unauthorised excavation have been persistent problems.
Details of the specific excavation activity and the circumstances of the arrest have not been fully disclosed. The STF, a paramilitary unit of the Sri Lanka Police, is primarily tasked with counter-terrorism and high-risk security operations.
The case adds to a series of accountability actions in recent weeks, including CIABOC arrests of former SLRC officials, the Mahinda Rajapaksa asset declaration notice and ongoing NDB Bank fraud investigations by the CID.
