Man arrested in Vavuniya with large stock of explosives

• 21 kilos and 635 grams of TNT explosives, 1 kilo 610 grams of P.E.  explosives and 148 anti-personnel mines were found in a house at Nedunkerny
• 22 anti-personnel mines were found to be active
• The suspect had been working as a bomb de-activator for a NGO over a long period

By Sithum Chaturanga- MADUKANDA  

A man has been arrested with 21 kilos and 635 grams of TNT explosives, 1 kilo 610 grams of P.E. explosives and 148 anti-personnel mines in a house at Senapilavu in Nedunkerny, Vavuniya yesterday afternoon. Among them, 22 anti-personnel mines were found to be active. 

Nedunkerny Police had found the explosives in a raid on a tip-off about a person collecting explosives.  

Investigations revealed that the suspect had been working as a bomb de-activator for a NGO over a long period and the mines and explosives had been collected.  
Police said they were investigating whether the suspect was a former LTTE cadre and for what purpose the explosives were collected.  The 32-year-old suspect, a resident of Oddusudan, is to be produced before the Vavuniya Magistrate’s Court.    

Two suicide vests weighing 5 kg found in Vavuniya 

By Romesh Madushanka - Wanni

Two suicide vests of LTTE origin weighing 5 kilos were found buried in a forest at Sinnathampanei in Settikulam, Vavuniya yesterday, police said.  According to information received by the Vavuniya State Intelligence, the two buried suicide vests weighing two and a half kilos each were found with the assistance of the Settikulam Police and STF.   

Police suspect that the two suicide vests may have been buried for safety by the LTTE during the last stages of the war.   

The Settikulam Police said that they are seeking the assistance of the STF to deactivate the two suicide vests following a court order.