Colombo entry points jammed

Long traffic jams with vehicles and people stranded for several hours were seen at all entry points to Colombo yesterday as the security forces launched another massive search operaton following the detection of a haul of explosives at the Vavuniya-Medawachchiya checkpoint on Friday.

Vehicles entering Colombo were searched at the two Kelaniya bridges, Mattakkuliya, Moratuwa and Battaramulla yesterday morning.

The scene at Katubedda yesterday as security forces launched a major search operation in Colombo and suburbs.

A defence official claimed that yesterday’s search was part of a routine operation carried out in Colombo from time to time.

At the Vavuniya-Medawachchiya checkpoint, police detected two suicide jackets with accessories and arrested a suspected LTTE cadre.

The vehicle was believed to be heading for Colombo. The explosives had been carefully concealed inside a modified fuel tank.

Acting on information provided by the suspect, police found two micro pistols and 50 rounds of ammunition at a house in Hunupitiya, Wattala.

The police also arrested nine LTTE suspects.