Sniper gun and micro pistols found in Lunuoya ditch

by Ranil Wijayapala and Prasad Poornamal

A haul of weapons including a sniper gun and two micro pistols were found yesterday by the Police in a ditch at Lunuoya in the Marawila Police division.

The detection came a day ahead of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga's scheduled visit to Wariyapola to address a rally. Wariyapola is just 30 kilometres from Lunuoya.

According to Police, Chilaw Acting HQI Upali Hettiarachchi on his way to Colombo had discovered the haul of weapons on a tip off received when he was passing through the area, sources added.

The Police found the sniper gun, 82 sniper rounds, three sniper magazines, two micro pistols and 45 pistol rounds, six pistol magazines and seven foreign made hand grenades.

The weapons were later taken to Colombo for further investigations.

Police suspects that the person who had carried the weapons had abandoned them in fear of being caught by Police at a recently set up barrier.

Further investigations are also on to ascertain whether this was connected to the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, Police added.