After CID grilling:

Peiris urges full inquiry

By Isuri Kaviratne

A full inquiry needs to be conducted on the recent discovery of explosives and the suicide vest found in Chavakachcheri, without simply dismissing the threat to national security, Prof. G.L. Peiris told the Sunday Observer shortly after making a statement to the Criminal Investigation Department yesterday.

“I merely quoted Northern Province Governor Reginald Cooray’s statement that the life of President Maithripala Sirisena might be at risk, which shows that these suicide vests could have been meant for him,” Peiris said and added that Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi should not simply dismiss this.

Peiris was summoned by the CID to record his statement on his allegation that the suicide jacket, four claymore mines, three parcels of 12 kg of TNT, two packets of 9mm ammunition and two battery packs to be used for detonating claymore mines found at a house in Maravanpulo, Chavakachcheri were to be sent to Wellawatte.

The police had told a press conference that the explosives were hidden by the LTTE during the war.

Making a statement on the matter, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had said the explosives were found wrapped in a newspaper dated 2008, and that it’s normal to find explosives in a country that has experienced war.

The investigation has been handed over to the Terrorism Investigation Division (TID). The government should stop trying to sweep everything under the carpet and the officials too should look at these issues devoid of political standpoints, Peiris said.