Six individuals have been arrested while engaged in illegal excavations in search of archaeological artifacts in the Wettakaaduva archaeological reserve limits in Onegama, Polonnaruwa.
The suspects were arrested in a raid conducted based on a tip-off received by the Polonnaruwa Police.
The police have also seized the equipment used by the suspects for the excavations.
The arrestees, aged 28-40 years old, are reportedly residents of Polonnaruwa area.
They are slated to be produced before the Polonnaruwa Magistrate’s Court.
Meanwhile, three individuals have been taken into custody for carrying out illegal excavations in search of archaeological artifacts in the limits of Diggala reserve in Galewela.
The arrested individuals are revealed to be residents of Galewela, Kadawata and Padukka areas and they are to be produced before the Dambulla Magistrate’s Court.
