Sri Lanka Police said that two suspects have been arrested within an hour in connection with an armed robbery at a liquor store near Anuradhapura Junction in Trincomalee.

The suspects had allegedly entered the liquor store last night (18) and threatened the employees with a T-56 firearm before fleeing with the stolen money and a bottle of arrack.

Police said that while one of the suspects was stealing money from the counter, an employee of the store attempted to prevent him from escaping. At that point, the other suspect, who was carrying the firearm, allegedly fired a shot at the roof of the store to frighten the employee.

The employees subsequently fled the premises, and the suspects escaped with the stolen money and the bottle of arrack.

Acting swiftly on information received regarding the robbery, officers attached to the Trincomalee Police arrested the two suspects while they were staying at a temporary lodging facility in the Uppuveli Police Division within approximately one hour of the incident, police said.

Police said the T-56 firearm used in the incident had been issued to the Uppuveli Police Station.

One of the suspects has been identified as a Police Sergeant attached to the Uppuveli Police Station who is serving at an armoury in the Kilipunchimale area. The other suspect is reportedly a close associate of the Police Sergeant.

The suspects, aged 54 and 61, are residents of Hakmana, police said.

Police have also taken into custody Rs. 11,500 in cash suspected to have been stolen from the liquor store, the motorcycle allegedly used by the suspects, a T-56 firearm and a magazine containing 29 rounds of ammunition.

Trincomalee Police are conducting further investigations into the incident.