The Wellawatte Police have arrested a suspect and another individual in connection with the theft of a safe containing gold jewellery worth nearly Rs. 20 million from a house in Kaviratne Place, Wellawatte.

The main suspect, identified as a known criminal operating under the alias “Wellawatte Ubaya,” was arrested with heroin and around 30 sovereigns of the stolen gold jewellery, police said.

The suspect had allegedly entered the house by breaking through the roof and stolen the safe containing approximately 39½ sovereigns of gold jewellery.

The theft was reported to the Wellawatte Police on September 24 by a female lawyer residing at the house.

Police investigations, including the examination of CCTV footage from neighbouring houses, revealed the suspect carrying the safe away after covering it with a bed sheet.

Investigators later arrested him at a house on Kalyani Road, Wellawatte. Police said he had been released on bail approximately two weeks earlier after being remanded in connection with several previous offences.

According to police, the suspect had taken the stolen safe to the house of a friend in Boralesgamuwa, and cut it open to remove the jewellery.

Investigations have revealed that some of the jewellery was pawned at a jewellery shop in Boralesgamuwa, with the money allegedly used to purchase heroin. Another portion was reportedly sold to an individual in Bandaragama.

Police also said the suspect had spent part of the proceeds on clothing and deposited Rs. 145,000 into his bank account.

Further investigations are underway to recover the remaining stolen property and identify others involved in the offence.