NCP DIG DISMISSES UNP ALLEGATIONS

Anuradhapura blast:

Chula Bandara Kulasekara and Nimal Wijesinghe Anuradhapura Additional District group corr.

Four policemen led by a sergeant had been deployed for security duties at the UNP meeting presided by Major General Janaka Perera at Dharmapala Mawatha, Anuradhapura on Monday, North Central Province DIG K.P.P. Pathirana said. He dismissed UNP allegations as false that security had not been provided to the meeting.

DIG Pathirana said: "I reported for duty on Sunday night after two days leave. On Monday morning as soon as I came to know about the bomb incident, I inquired from Anuradhapura SSP whether he was aware of the UNP meeting and police security had been provided.

However the SSP told me that police had not been informed about the meeting. The SP, in charge of the division gave me the same answer when I asked him about it".

Pathirana said: "I provided this information to the IGP. But I came to know later that police which had got wind of the UNP meeting had deployed four policemen including a sergeant to cover it." He said an investigation has been launched to ascertain the truth about the allegation that police had been informed in writing about the meeting. Meanwhile, Pathirana said two special police teams are investigating into Monday's bomb incident.

Meanwhile, Security in Anuradhapura city and suburbs have been strengthened with more STF and Army personnel being deployed, DIG (NCP) K. P. P. Pathirana said.

He told the Daily News that protection has been extended to houses of those who died in Monday's Tiger suicide blast until funeral arrangements are over.

The DIG said they are waiting for the analyst's report with regard to the explosion.

However, the initial observations and tests have proved that the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber, he added.

Meanwhile, Director of the Teaching Hospital, Anuradhapura Dr. Sarath Weerabandara said out of the 86 injured persons admitted to hospital yesterday. 70 were still receiving treatments.

Two patients seriously injured admitted to the ICU are in a critical condition, the Director said. Dr. Pushpakumara, a private practitioner in Anuradhapura city whose eyes have been seriously affected has been transferred to the Colombo Eye Hospital for urgent treatment, Dr. Weerabandara said.

The following died while being brought to the hospital and on admission to hospital. K. M. Jayatilake, Kahatagasdigiliya, P. M. Uditha Somasiri, Yasasiripura, Rashmi Maharoof, Dharmapala Mawatha, Anuradhapura, S. K. Punchihewa, Irattaperiyakulam, Vavuniya, H. U. Dabare, Gnanikkulama and M. U. M. Bandara Menike Tambuttegama.