Chief security officer's foresight saves minister's life

How did the woman suicide bomber who blew herself up at the Katuwawela-Pirivena Road junction, a fortnight ago arrive there with explosives strapped on to her body? Did she arrive in a three-wheeler taxi, just prior to the convoy of vehicles carrying the Agricultural Development and Agrarian Services Development Minister Maithripala Sirisena, and the Deputy Minister Siripala Gamlath and other State officials were about to pass that point?

If that was the case, was the identify of the wheeler driver established in the first place. Did he have any prior knowledge about what the woman suicide cadre was planning on that day? Or on the contrary was he ignorant of the whole operation?

The three-wheeler driver had to be traced and questioned. The driver may have a wealth of information on the suicide bomber? It seems that the Police are still on the look out for the three-wheeler driver. Was there someone else, who had communicated with the suicide bomber on the cellular phone prior to the explosion? If that was the case was a third person involved in the plot. According to the Police Media Spokesman, SSP Ranjith Gunesekera the woman suicide bomber had purchased the mobile phone on the pretext that he was purchasing it for another service personnel serving in the North Central Province, (NCP) by forwarding his National Identity Card number. It was found that the woman suicide cadre had lived at a rented out house at Fernando Road, Wellawatte along with another woman who was posing as her mother. They were in occupation from March this year. But the house was earlier rented out by somone who had arrived from the North. According to the landlord, a woman who is supposed to be terminally-ill had rented out the house to undergo treatment at a private hospital in Colombo. She lived in the house with another woman and left when the woman suicide bomber moved in there with her mother.

According to police, the woman suicide cadre and her mother had posed off as Sinhalese women. Following the blast, the Police recovered the national identity card (NIC) of the suicide bomber with a fictitious name and address on it. Prior to the blast her mother too had left to Anuradhapura. Following further investigations, police arrested the landlord and other inmates of the house for further questioning.

It is presumed that October 9, 2008 drew the attention of LTTE cadres as several VVIP and other top ministers were to officiate at a ceremony at Bandaragama.

The program was focused on rehabilitation of abandoned paddy fields. Much publicity was given to the program via posters and through print and the electronic media. Despite tight security measures being in place, a lone woman LTTE suicide bomber waiting in ambush at Katuwawela -Piriven Road junction on the outskirts of Colombo-Horana Road, with explosives strapped on her body blew herself to smithereens when a convoy of vehicles carrying the VIPS passed that way. The time was around 1.30. p.m.

Judging by the event it could be said a lapse on the part of the VIP security existed. Otherwise how on earth did the woman suicide bomber know the route the VIP was taking. Surely she could not have acted alone without being guided by a handler. But it must be said that due to the foresight of Minister Maithripala Sirisena's Chief Security Officer, the vehicle the minister used to get to Bandaragama was changed on his return journey Colombo.

The move perhaps averted a calamitous situation, police said. Fortunately the vehicle in which the minister travelled and the other vehicles of his security officers were not damaged in the explosion.

But the Mitshubishi vehicle bearing No KB 0935 of the Ministry's Secretary and the Toyota Cab bearing No PS 2576 trailing behind the security vehicles were caught up in the blast. Those who were critically injured were the Secretary to the Ministry A. Ranjith Wijetilleka, driver T.K. Kumarasinghe, of Galwala Road, Polonnaruwa and Ananda Vithanage of 52/05 Thunbovila Piliyandala. The two civilians killed in the explosion were identified as P.J. Weerasinghe, a Surveyor by profession, residing at 209-D, Bokundara Road, Piliyandala and P. Wijeratne residing at 17/07, Abeyratne Mawatha, Makuluduwa, Piliyandala. The third person who sustained serious injuries was Athula Sanjeewa residing at 119/03 Pelewatte West Mathugama who was admitted to the Colombo South Teaching Hospital at Kalubovila.

They were travelling in their vehicles behind the convoy of ministerial vehicles when the explosion occurred around 1.30.pm. It was subsequently revealed that the woman suicide bomber had been lurking around Pirivena Road junction near a kiosk. She had darted across the road and jumped in front of the convoy of vehicles, detonating the bomb.

Several pedestrians and people nearby were also caught up in the bomb blast.

The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals. The injured were identified as Galpoththage Wimalasena Perera of No. 445, Old Road, Boralesgamuwa. Indika Amal Dedigama of No. 108/04 01 of Maharagama Road, Piliyandala.The following vehicles were also damaged in the bomb blast. Car bearing No-WP-K.A. 5301, Van bearing No. 53-5529, Lorry bearing No. W.P.-L.F. 1420, lorry, car bearing No WP.K.J. 2143, Toyota Car bearing No. WP. K.H. 4384, Caravan bearing no 54-1411. Police recovered the following items found at the scene of the blast.

A SIM Card bearing No. 0774188721 believed to be of the suicide bomber. Parts of the Nokia Cellular mobile phone bearing No. 359533-01 and 18229717 and the National Identity Card No. 8479444192. The spectre of political assassinations have raised concern in the security establishment. Over the years the LTTE has assassinated political leaders to achieve their ambitions. Several political leaders who opposed their ideology have been assassinated in the past.

They include the Indian Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, President Ranasinghe Premadasa, Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar,Minister C.V. Gooneratne, Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, Minister D.M. Dassanayake, Minister Gamini Dissanayake and Lalith Athulatmadali to name a few.