A councillor of the Chilaw Urban Council, his two sons and three others were arrested by Chilaw Police on Friday (8) while they were excavating an archeological site at Eswara Kovil in Manaweriya in the Arachchikattuwa Police area.
The suspects had dug a 10-foot deep pit. Police also took their excavating equipment into custody. The suspects are residents of Chilaw, Arachchikattuwa and Rajakadaluwa. The two sons of the councillor are aged 22 and 30 years.
Some 128 suspects have been arrested for treasure hunting in the Kurunegala and Puttalam districts during past three months.
Sanjeewa Dharmaratne, senior DIG of the Wayamba Province, Lalith Rohana Gamage, SSP of Chilaw and Nimal Perera, the DIG of the Puttalam District are now conducting further investigations.