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The precious stone was recovered while it was being taken by an interdicted police assistant to be sold to two businessmen from Matale for Rs. 40 million on July 09.
After producing them before courts, the Chief Magistrate of Anuradhapura ordered the National Gem and Jewellery Authority and the Department of Archaeology to ascertain the value of the gem and report back to the court.
The gem weighs 28 grams and its value could not be ascertained, officials of the National Gem and Jewellery Authority and the Department of Archaeology informed Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate Uresha de Silva, when the case was taken up for hearing on Friday (01). The Archeology Department officials said the receptacle carrying the gem was made of copper and it belonged to the Kandyan Period.
The raid was conducted by special raiding unit of the Anuradhapura police. The suspect was an interdicted police assistant (43) named Upali Jayasumana of Meegaswewa, Namalpura, Galenbindunuwewa.
The suspect has divulged to police that he had found the gemstone by digging up a treasure in the Inamaluwa area in Dambulla with several others.
Anuradhapura police are conducting further investigations.
By Percey Kuruneru
