Another holocaust averted by agile cops

Providence saved us all from another major tragedy when policemen at the Kotawehera Palugaswewa checkpoint detected last week, a lorry laden with powerful C4 type explosives sufficient enough to blow up the city of Colombo, and the suburbs, taking with it several high rise buildings, Colombo Port, and the oil refinery at Sapugaskanda.

The irony was that nobody exactly knew where the lorry was heading for and what was its intended target. Only the CID will be able to tell us where the terrorists were planning to push the button when they complete their investigations.

Already three CID teams under the supervision of a Senior Supdt. of Police are investigating into it. Experience have shown us that in similar circumstances in the past, the suspects had limited knowledge about their task entrusted to them.

Presumably the lorry driver and the cleaner who were taken in for questioning may or may not have any information pertaining to the lethal cargo or where it was bound for.

However due to the sensitive nature of the investigation, CID is tight lipped about speaking to the media until they get to the bottom of the story. As highlighted in the media the owner of the lorry has not been traced so far, CID sources told the Sunday Observer.

However we can only presume the sinister motive of the terrorists to cause mayhem and destruction as never witnessed before with a huge quantity of lethal explosives.

Around 1000 kilos of C type high explosives were found stacked inside the lorry, covered with coconuts. The alert policemen on duty at the checkpoint were able to detect the haul after routine questioning its driver and its cleaner.

The policemen became suspicious when both the driver and the cleaner fumbled when they were asked to explain as to why they were hauling coconuts to be sold at Puttalama.

After all, coconuts were available in plenty in Puttalama, like carrying coal to New Castle. Not satisfied with their explanation the policemen became more suspicious when they learnt that both the driver and the cleaner hailed from Chavakachcheri and Kilinochchi areas. The detect took place last Friday around 5.30 p.m. According to police it was the biggest haul of explosives detected so far.

The police hierarchy should take cognizance of the fact and recommend a suitable reward to the two gallant policemen. A similar detection made of this nature by policemen on duty in Borella, opposite the YMBA some time ago who were rewarded. But why the policemen failed to detect the same at Pundalu-Oya the previous day.

Their explanation have to be called for and punishment meted out if found guilty for dereliction of duty. Were the explosives packed while the lorry was in Kilinochchi or in Puttalama? Or was it packed when the lorry reached Pundalu-Oya or elsewhere.

However the suspect driver and the cleaner had told police that they took charge of the lorry at Puttalama along with coconuts and had proceeded to Pundalu-Oya. Naturally the question that comes to our mind is at what point the explosives were taken on board.

Was it at Kilinochchi? If so, how did the vehicle had a smooth run across several army check points on its way to Puttalama? On the other hand if the explosives were loaded at Puttalama or at Pundalu-Oya how did the terrorists manage to smuggle in such large quantity to these areas. It is worth probing from where these explosives were smuggled into Sri Lanka. Around 47 boxes packed with C4 explosives were detected on that night.

Over the years LTTE had blown up several key places in the Colombo city. The Pettah bomb blast in the late eighties killed several civilians. So was the bomb at the Maradana bridge and the other at the Hotel Oberoi where several persons died.

Then came the bomb explosion at the office of the Joint Command at Flower Road in 1991 where over 26 service personnel and civilians lost their lives. The king Coconut cart that blew up at the Torrington Square in 1995 killed 22. The Central Bank blast in 1996 at Fort where over 96 died. The Galadari bomb blast in 1997 where several perished. In 1998 the explosion at the sacred Dalada Maligawa killed nearly 18 persons.

It was only a few months ago when a 12 kilo claymore mine found at a cable television shop at the Pearl Park Supermarket at Wattala. A remote device was also found in the drawer of the proprietor.

Here it was likely the terrorists were targeting a convoy of armed services personnel or police personnel. However their plans were foiled following the arrest of a top LTTE cadre in Mount Lavinia area around that time.

On a tip off the Army raided the shop and discovered the claymore bomb. Last year a 15 kilo claymore mine was found near a waste dump at the end of Charlemont Road, Wellawatte closer to the beach, placed near the rail track overhead bridge.

Last year the Pamunugama police found a stockpile of explosives which includes two Claymore mines, two T-56 assault rifles with 115 ammunitions, seven hand grenades, reels of wire, detonators, switches, all from a farm in Pamunugama.

The stuff was packed in wooden boxes and covered with coconut husks. The detection was made by the Special Task Force (STF) commandos acting on a tip off.

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