STF stumbles on arsenal in East

By Himal Kotelawala

A large number of explosives, ammunition, motorcycles, etc. allegedly hidden by the LTTE was discovered on Wednesday during a special search operation carried out by the Special Task Force (STF) in Kanchikudichchaaru, Ampara, SSP M. R. Latif said in a media release.

The items at the Kanchirankuda STF Camp

The search was conducted on intelligence received by the STF. Some of the items discovered were 99,000 T-56 bullets, 70 rocket propelled grenade (RPG) rounds, 259 anti-personnel mines, 17 Bangalore torpedoes, 400 detonators and eight motorcycles, among others.

Meanwhile a suspicious parcel containing T56 ammunition and a hand grenade had been discovered in Panadura on Friday evening. A Panadura Police spokesman told The Sunday Times that the parcel was found near the Budget Shop in Panadura and also contained 250 grams of C4 explosives.

The official website of the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) reported that the Army recovered 45 T-56 ammunition, two pistol rounds, a false identity card and a false driver’s licence in a house in Chilaw on Friday. The search was carried out on information received from a civilian, the website reported.