by Dasun Edirisinghe

The government had not told the public the whole truth regarding yesterday’s detection of suicide kits, bombs and explosives from the Chavakachcheri police area in Jaffna, the Joint Opposition charged.

Addressing the media at the Dr N. M. Perera Centre in Borella, former External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris said that according to their information there were five claymore mines, two suicide jackets, three bags of C4 explosives and five telephone SIM cards and they were to be sent to Wellawatte.

He said the Police had reportedly raided the house after receiving a tip-off that the owner had in his possession ganja, but it turned out to be a lethal cache.

Prof. Peiris said the Rajapaksa government had crushed terrorism and taken precautions to prevent it from raising its head again, but terrorism had got a new lease of life under the present government.

“We ended the 30-year conflict which started with the assassination of then Jaffna SLFP Mayor Alfred Duriappah in 1976,” the former Minister said.

Prof. Peiris said the government had already taken action to close down the Sampoor Army camp which was strategically set up and was planning to abolish the Prevention of Terrorism Act as well. The government should reconsider its decisions which would jeopardize national security, he said.

Former Minister and Matara District MP Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said the government continuously harassed members of the security forces. “Members of the Army intelligence services have been remanded without charge and they did not get bail when the case was called on Tuesday,” he said.

Courtesy:The Island