Sri Lanka, March 16 -- Dehiattakandiya Police arrested five individuals, including three women, for transporting a Buddha statue of suspected archaeological value and several gemstones in a three-wheeler.

The raid took place yesterday afternoon (15) in the Salpitigama area on the Salpitigama-Sandunpura road.

Acting on specific information, officers set up a roadblock to intercept the group.

Upon inspection, police discovered the statue along with three blue stones suspected to be gems.

The three-wheeler used for transport was also taken into custody.

The arrested women, aged 26, 53, and 55, are residents of Mahiyanganaya and Ridimaliyadda.

The other two male suspects, aged 32 and 62, hail from Bibile and Minipe. Police noted that on...