LTTE claymore misses Navy bus target

WELISARA: An LTTE claymore mine attack in the wee hours of yesterday aimed at a Navy bus leaving the Welisara Navy camp went awry and instead a CTB bus was caught in the explosion causing injuries to the driver and conductor.

Navy Spokesman Lt. Commander D.K.P. Dassanayake said the two claymore mines were strapped together to cause maximum damage.

The target was clearly the Navy shuttle bus carrying personnel to Ratmalana to take them to operational areas, he said.

"It is certainly the work of the LTTE which is continuing with its barbarism," Dassanayake said. According to him, the claymore mine was activated by a remote control device and this can only be done by the LTTE.

OIC Welisara Police IP Wasantha Kumarapeli said the Navy bus which usually transport between 15 to 20 Navy personnel, had 40 sailors bound for the North and East yesterday.

"Their main target was the particular bus. It appears that they operated the mine prematurely", Dassanayake said.

The CTB driver and conductor escaped with minor injuries and are receiving treatment at the Ragama hospital. The bus which left the Welisara Depot near the Navy camp was heading for the Mahabage junction en-route to the Bandaranaike International Airport when it was caught up in the blast. There were no passengers in the bus since it was leaving the depot. The bus was completely damaged by the explosion.

The road leading to the Welisara Navy camp was cordoned off and a joint search operation launched by the Army, Police and Navy.

According to OIC Kumarapeli one suspect has been taken into custody. The Welisara Navy camp is 200 metres away from the scene of the incident. The Navy, Army and Police are conducting a joint search operation, Dassanayake said.