Police alerted by vigilant civilians detected a 2.4 kg improvised explosive device (IED) near an electrical transformer at Alapitiwala on the Mabola - Ragama road around 7 this evening.

According to the police sources , civilians in the area had informed the police about a suspected parcel lying near the said electrical transformer which is located 100m away from the a gas station. Police having rushed to the location and found that the parcel was wired and informed the bomb disposal squad.

Later, the army bomb disposal squad diffused the bomb. Police suspect that the LTTE terrorist had brought the bomb to destroy the electrical transformer. Investigations are in progress.