Gold-plated T-56 firearm case
Current status of the Gold-plated T-56 firearm case
A gold-plated T-56 assault rifle was discovered concealed in a bag carried by a woman at the Havelock City apartment complex, Colombo, on 20 May 2025, after a security guard alerted police. The woman told investigators the weapon had been sent to her some months earlier for safekeeping by Duminda Dissanayake. A second woman and a household employee of Dissanayake's were also arrested. Dissanayake was arrested by the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID) on 23 May 2025. He was later discharged by a magistrate for lack of evidence, but the case was reopened by the Attorney General's Department in mid-2026 after fresh statements, and he was re-named a suspect. He and one of the women were indicted before the Colombo High Court on 10 Sep 2026 and released on bail the same day. This is a prosecution under active proceedings and has not resulted in a conviction.
What’s happened
Case reopened in Jun 2026 after the Attorney General's Department instructed police to re-name Dissanayake as a suspect, based on fresh statements from a co-suspect, over alleged aiding and abetting in concealing the weapon. He was indicted before the Colombo High Court on 10 Sep 2026 together with one of the women; each was granted bail the same day on Rs. 50,000 cash bail with two sureties of Rs. 2 million each. The case has been fixed for a pre-trial conference on 2 Oct 2026.
- Court
- Colombo High Court
- Next hearing / due
- 2 October 2026
Gold-plated T-56 firearm case timeline
- 10 September 2026
Indicted
Indicted together with one of the women before the Colombo High Court over the gold-plated T-56 firearm case; each was released on bail the same day on Rs. 50,000 cash bail with two sureties of Rs. 2 million each. The case was fixed for a pre-trial conference on 2 Oct 2026.
Court: Colombo High Court
- 19 June 2026
Bail Granted
The Attorney General's Department instructed police to re-name Dissanayake as a suspect, based on fresh statements from a co-suspect, over alleged aiding and abetting in concealing the weapon. He was produced before the Mount Lavinia Magistrate's Court and released on personal bail (two sureties of Rs.5 million each).
Court: Mount Lavinia Magistrate's Court
Sources (2)
- 29 July 2025
Discharged
Discharged by the Mount Lavinia Magistrate's Court, which found no direct or investigative evidence to proceed against him at that time.
Court: Mount Lavinia Magistrate's Court
Sources (2)
- 14 July 2025
Bail Granted
Granted bail by the Colombo High Court on Rs.250,000 cash bail and two sureties of Rs.5 million each, with a travel ban and passport surrendered, over the Attorney General's objection.
Court: Colombo High Court
Sources (2)
- 29 May 2025
Remanded
Remanded by the Mount Lavinia Magistrate's Court, with remand further extended at subsequent hearings through 19 Jun 2025.
Court: Mount Lavinia Magistrate's Court
Sources (2)
- 23 May 2025
Arrested
Duminda Dissanayake was arrested by the Terrorism Investigation Division at a Thimbirigasyaya apartment, days after a gold-plated T-56 assault rifle allegedly sent to a woman for safekeeping was discovered at the Havelock City apartment complex, Colombo.
Court: Colombo High Court
Sources (1)