Body found at explosion site

A charred body of a soldier was found by the army this morning from the explosion site inside the Weerawila Army Camp where an ammunition dump exploded on Monday evening, Military Spokesman Brigadier Nihal Hapuarchchi said.

He said that the solider had gone to the ammunition dump to collect several ammunition rounds as a firing exercise was held in the camp last evening when the explosion had taken place.

“We could not go to the site because the explosions continued,” he said. Two soldiers were also injured during the explosion at the army camp situated in close proximity to the Weerawila Air Force Base.

A five member committee headed by a Brigadier has been appointed by Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya to look into the explosion.

“We still do not know what happened and how he was killed,” he added. The victim has been identified as Private Anthony of the Gemunu Regiment.

The incident took place at around 4pm in the ammunition dump maintained by the Gajaba Regiment at the army camp in Weerawila. The explosion was followed by a number of small explosions of low magnitude.

The 14th Gemunu Watch camp has two ammunition dumps. One is maintained by the Gajaba Regiment and the other by the 122nd brigade. The Weerawila camp where the explosion took place had comprised about 100 soldiers as it is a relatively small camp.

Meanwhile police media spokesman SSP Maxi Proctor said that the police are assisting the army and the Government Analyst in conducting the investigations into the Weerawila Camp explosion. (Supun Dias)