The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Friday obtained a 72-hour detention order to question former minister Douglas Devananda after he was produced before the Gampaha Magistrate.

Devananda was arrested by the CID in connection with an investigation into a missing firearm, police sources said.

The arrest relates to an incident in which a firearm issued to Devananda for his personal use by the Sri Lanka Army in 2001 was recovered in 2019 during the interrogation of organised crime figure Makandure Madush.

Investigations revealed that a serial number check confirmed the firearm had been officially issued to Douglas Devananda. However, during questioning, the former minister reportedly failed to provide a satisfactory explanation as to how the weapon was obtained or how it later went missing.