1/6/2007

Vigilant Police officers at the Palugashandiya road block, apprehended a lorry transporting 1052Kgs of C4 high explosives, averting a major tragedy on Friday the 01st of June, at 03.30p.m.

The lorry was requested to stop, on suspicion when it was about to cross the Palugashandiya Police road block. Latest information reveals that the explosives had been carefully concealed inside the lorry underneath a stockpile of coconuts.

The Police officers recovered 46 boxes including 09 boxes weighing 10Kgs and 37 boxes, each weighing 26Kgs containing C-4 high explosives, a total mounting to 1052Kgs of explosives.

The Police also arrested the driver and his assistant believed to be from the Chavakachcheri area in the North.

According to the MCNS officials the seizure is reportedly the biggest explosives haul recovered in Sri Lanka.

C-4 or Composition C -4 is a common type of plastic explosive used by the LTTE in bomb attacks in Sri Lanka. It can be easily molded into any shape or stuffed into gaps in buildings, equipment or machinery.

The LTTE had used 50 kg of C-4 explosives in the Central Bank attack which killed 55 people and injured over 1000.

Security Forces believe that the massive stock of C-4 explosives would have been transported to Colombo by the LTTE for a major attack.

The Kotawehera Police are conducting further investigations.

Palugashandiya is located in the Kotawehera Police division, 06 miles North West of Nikaweratiya.