by Kalinga Weerakkody
On a confession made by a hardcore LTTE suspect arrested near the passport office on Saturday, Bambalapitiya police recovered a remote controlled claymoremine which could be operated by a walkie talkie.

Police said that this was the first remote controlled claymore mine to be recovered in the country.

Police also recovered two cyanide capsules from the suspect’s possession which were hidden inside his mouth?

The suspect had a bogus identity card. He passed off as a Muslim youth.

Investigations revealed that the suspect had been staying at a lodge in Maradana area for a rental of Rs. 3000 per month.

The suspect had confessed to police that he had been sent by the LTTE prior to the Norway peace talks held between the last government and LTTE to cause destruction in the event there is a stalement in the discussions.

Sources said that when the talks failed the suspect had tried to assassinate Mahinda Rajapakse or Nimal Siripala last year.

Due to a technical fault that occurred in the remote control circuit of the walkie talkie the attempt had been futile. It had revealed that the walkie talkie had been sent to Batticaloa for repairs.

Police also arrested another associate of the suspect who had been working as the messenger for the LTTE. The two suspects are from Walaichenai area and had been staying in Colombo for the past 1 1/2 years.

Another male and a female who had given the suspects lodging had been taken into custody.

Police had also recovered a special Hero pen and several letters used by the suspect to write letters with lemon. Which could be read using caustic soda.

Investigations are continuing.

The arrest was made by a team led by Bambalapitiya OIC Premasiri Hettiarachie.