Colombo (HRNW)- Former Sri Lankan minister Kehilya Rambukwella has been arrested over allegations that he helped facilitate the theft of a centuries-old sacred stone known as the “Moonstone.”
According to Sri Lanka’s anti-corruption authorities, Rambukwella allegedly assisted a conspiracy to remove the valuable carved granite stone from a historic palace in December 2022 and obstructed the subsequent police investigation.
The Moonstone is a large, intricately carved granite structure that once marked the main entrance to the palace of Veera Parakama Narendrasinghe, regarded as the last Sinhalese king of Sri Lanka, who ruled until 1739.
Sri Lanka’s Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption said the former minister allegedly facilitated the removal of the historic artifact.
Rambukwella is also facing a separate allegation of using public funds to employ six people for his private business.
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