Amidst contradictory statements from within the Police Department about the recovery of a van loaded with 20 claymore mines in Mannar on Tuesday, the government said yesterday that a high level inquiry would be initiated.

Media Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa asked at the Cabinet Press briefing, how such contradictions could be there on a matter as serious as claymore mines to be used in an attack in Colombo, said a thorough investigation would be conducted at the highest level.

The Colombo Crimes Division chief SSP Vaas Gunawardena has said the claymore mine laden van was found in Mannar, on information provided by two

LTTE cadres arrested at Attidiya in Dehiwala, recently.

However, Senior DIG Northern Province, Nimal Lewke contends that the recovery of the said van, was suspicious and questionable, as it had not been reported to any responsible officer in his area. He has called for reports from the DIG Northern Range and SSP Mannar Division.

Yapa, commenting on last Saturday’s Uva Provincial Council Election, which the UPFA won with a two thirds majority, said that it was a vindication of the government’s policies.

Tragic as it may be the UNP has now been reduced to a ‘Pradeshya Sabha Party’, with no hope of any revival, he added.