Police investigations have uncovered that a gold-plated T56 assault rifle, seized from a luxury apartment at the Havelock City housing complex in Colombo, is allegedly linked to former Cabinet Minister and a top SLFP politician who represent North Central Province, Divaina newspaper reported.

His father, too, was a powerful politician in the same province and is now deceased

The weapon was discovered hidden inside a bag at the residence of a 68-year-old woman living at Havelock City. According to police sources, the firearm had been delivered to her around six months ago by the former minister’s bodyguard, with instructions to keep it concealed.

The bag remained untouched until recently, when the woman’s son took it along for a leisure trip, unaware of its contents. She reportedly placed the bag in the boot of her vehicle, where it was spotted by security personnel at Havelock City, who then alerted the Wellawatte Police.

Upon inspection, authorities confirmed the weapon was not a replica, but a real, gold-plated T56 assault rifle in working condition. The 68-year-old woman and another female resident were taken into custody.

Initial statements from the woman revealed that she did not know a firearm was inside the bag and that she had accepted it out of trust in the former minister’s bodyguard, a long-time acquaintance. Investigations further revealed that the politician is a close personal friend of the woman and had relied on this relationship to have the firearm stored at her residence.

A special police team also arrested the bodyguard in Avissawella in connection with the case. Investigations are now focused on determining why the firearm was hidden and whether it was involved in any criminal activity.

The politician, is expected to be questioned and possibly arrested as investigations unfold, the newspaper reported.

The probe is being carried out on the instructions of Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya and is overseen by Senior DIG of the Western Province, Sanjeewa Dharmaratne.