Major catastrophe averted

Timely action by a conductor of a minibus from Colombo bound for Koswinna prevented a massive time bomb explosion at 5 p.m. yesterday.

Military spokesperson Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara told the Sunday Observer that a parcel under the seat of the 218 bus route was found by the bus conductor.

When he realised that the parcel was not claimed by any passenger he threw it out near Koswinna Buddhist temple and informed the police about the suspicious parcel.Later the STF bomb disposal unit rushed to the spot and found that the parcel contained 1.2 kilo C-4 explosive and defused it safely.

According to Brigadier Nanayakkara the timely action by the conductor prevented the time bomb exploding inside the minibus.

Had the bomb gone off there would have been a massive human catastrophe.

Further investigations were carried out by police into the incident.