Pandemonium at High Court following bomb scare

Sandasen Marasinghe

COLOMBO: Panic reigned at the Colombo High Court yesterday following an anonymous call that a bomb was about to be exploded inside the court premises.

The Court premises was evacuated of hundreds of litigants, the Court staff and lawyers before a complete search was carried out by the Judicial Security Division and the Police. In the end it was found to be a false alarm.

Keselwatta Police said a clerk of the High Court staff had received an anonymous call at around 8.45 a.m. that there was a plan to explode a massive bomb in the High Court premises within 30 minutes.

The agitated Court staff had rushed to the Police Post at the Colombo High Court premises with the information after which immediate precautionary action was taken. The search was completed by 9.30 a.m. and the High Court resumed work.

Director of the Judicial Security Division Senior Superintendent of Police Ceaser Ranaweera said the entire premises was checked thoroughly and no explosives were found. He said every possible step has been taken to ensure the security of the Judges and litigants within the court premises.