Temple jewellery recovered through donations at Kompannavidiya temple

21-Aug-2026

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All the sacred gold jewellery stolen from the Sri Sivasubramaniyaswamy Temple in Kompannavidiya has been recovered through generous personal financial contributions made by the temple trustees following the theft.

In an effort to safeguard the sanctity of the temple and the faith of devotees, trustees A.M.R. Thanayagam and Thirukumaran Nadesan each donated Rs.12.4 million from their personal funds to redeem the jewellery that had been pledged.

Sathieskumara Kurukkal, who was serving at the temple, is alleged to have used the key to the jewellery safe to carry out the theft.

The stolen jewellery was allegedly pledged at C.T.B. Bank in Kotahena for Rs.5.28 million, at Vimal Pawning Centre for Rs.5.57 million and at S.M.P. for Rs.15.925 million. The suspect is alleged to have lost the total amount of approximately Rs.26.7 million in gambling.

The theft came to light when the jewellery safe was opened during the temple festival on 29 July. The temple administration subsequently lodged a complaint with the Kompannavidiya Police.

When the case was taken up before Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasekara, the magistrate imposed a travel ban on the suspect, Sathieskumara Kurukkal, who is currently absconding, and ordered police to arrest him immediately and produce him before court.