Explosion off Negombo seas: LTTE targets vessel carrying choppers

by Ranga Jayasuriya

Military officials investigating yesterday's incident near Negombo believe that three suspects who were caught after an explosion in the seas off Bopitiya were on a mission to target a vessel transporting two MI 17 helicopters.

A ship transporting two MI 17 helicopters after overhaul repairs in Ukraine was expected to reach Colombo yesterday. Suspicion was rife after three diving kits were found along with the suspects who were arrested by the police following a tip off from local civilian fishermen. Two bombs each weighing 35 Kgs were later found washed ashore in Wennappuwa.

The three suspects were caught after they swam ashore following loud explosions which came from the sea. Two of them swallowed cyanide capsules and were admitted to the Negombo hospital.

The suspects were later taken into police custody after doctors ruled they were out of danger. Security sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said the three suspects would have been tasked with blowing up the ship.

"There is also a possibility that the suspects were targeting a Dvora FAC which was on routine sea patrol in the North Western waters," the military official said. The three suspects were believed to be transporting explosives when one of the bombs went off which shattered windows of some houses on the sea front.