Rudimentary bombs a hoax

Police said the rudimentary bombs recovered last week near the Koggala Air Base and the Free Trade Zone were a hoax which could have been made to advance certain commercial interests.

The two bombs, one containing 300 grammes of explosives, were too rudimentary and did not contain explosives enough to make a credible threat, police said.

The second bomb was assembled in a plastic cup similar to a margarine cup.

None of these bombs was the type of explosives regularly used by the LTTE.

Both bombs were disposed by the Bomb disposal unit. Police spokesman SSP Rienzie Perera told the Sunday Observer, this could be an act by certain interested groups to seek greater security attention.

"Local people told the police that this could have been an attempt to compel security forces and police to provide extra security to the Koggala Free Trade Zone," said SSP Perera.

Police have also called for Government Analyst's assistance and were investigating to ascertain the origin and the motives of the bomb hoax, he said.