Statement likely to be recorded from G. L. on claims over explosives

A statement is likely to be recorded from former Foreign Minister Professor G. L. Peiris on a statement he made over the explosives recovered in the North yesterday.

Peiris had claimed that the explosives recovered in Chavakachcheri was to be transported to Wellawatta. Media Minister Gayantha Karunatillake said that the statement made by Professor Peiris must be investigated.

Karunatillake told reporters at the weekly post cabinet press briefing today that even before investigations into the discovery of the explosives had been launched the former Minister had made a statement saying the explosives were being taken to Colombo.

A suicide jacket and explosives were recovered from a house in Chavakachcheri in Jaffna yesterday.

The police media unit said that the suicide jacket and explosives were recovered from the house based on information received by the police.

The police said that three parcels found in the house contained 12kg of TNT explosives. The police also recovered 100 bullets and batteries used to trigger explosives.

The police said that it is believed the explosives were hidden in the house during the war which ended in 2009. 

The owner of the house had fled but the police launched an operation and arrested him in Kilinochchi. (Colombo Gazette)