STF Director Training killed by LTTE claymore

Rafik Jalaldeen

KANDY: Director Training of the Special Task Force, SSP Upul Seneviratne and his driver were killed in an LTTE claymore blast at Digana yesterday.

The incident occurred in Rajawella, Digana at around 4.45 a.m. while the SSP was on his way to his Office at the STF Training Centre in Katukurunda.

The SSP and his driver PC S. Adhikari succumbed to their injuries at the Kandy General Hospital where they were rushed to in a critical state.

STF Commander DIG Nimal Leuke told the Daily News the blast was activated by a remote controlled device.

"He was approaching the Rajawella Tamil Maha Vidyalaya on the Mahiyangana main road when the claymore mine went off. Another claymore mine was later detected on the spot," the DIG said.

Two claymore mines were planted on the spot but only one was activated and the other failed to explode due to a technical fault, he added. SSP Upul Seneviratne, 44, had his education at Dharmaraja College Kandy. He joined the Police Department in 1983 and served in various units including as STF Commander in the East, DIG Leuke said.

Security was strengthened soon after the incident with joint police and army units combing the area for suspects.

Meanwhile, the Government yesterday strongly condemned the killing and blamed the LTTE for the dastardly act.

"The killing of STF Director Training Upul Seneviratne could be considered as another prominent instance of the danger posed by allowing free access to the LTTE to any part of the country which occurred in the recent past," Defence Affairs Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.

He said the Government strongly condemned the assassination and added that it was regrettable to note the silence of those who are quick to accuse the Government of the ceasefire agreement violations amidst such blatant violations of the truce by the LTTE. He said in the wake of this latest LTTE atrocity, the time has arrived for all segments to wake up and forge national unity to defeat the scourge of terrorism.