National Intelligence Bureau uncovers:

Plot to assassinate Defence Secretary

Chaminda Perera

The National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) officials yesterday succeeded in uncovering a master plan to assassinate Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa with the recovery of a suicide kit , arms and ammunition from a house in Mutwal.

According to Police Spokesman DIG Nimal Mediwaka, the NIB officials found a massive haul of ammunition which included a suicide kit weighing over 5Kg, a most modern machine gun, 121 ammunitions, two ammunition cases, 13 Cyanide capsules, five batteries, remote controllers, Service code and detonators.

He said the NIB officials received information that these explosive items were concealed in a cupboard in a housing unit of a condominium housing scheme in Mutwal under the directive of an LTTE leader in Colombo.

This LTTE leader has reportedly planned to launch a well coordinated Guerilla attack on Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. “It is believed that they had planned to hurl hand grenades at Rajapaksa’s motorcade as a part of the massive assassination bid.

The Officials have started an investigation as to how a most modern type of machine gun and other equipment were brought to the housing scheme when tight security measures were in place in Colombo and suburbs.

This recovery from a Housing Scheme in Mutwal was the result of a comprehensive investigation conducted by the NIB officials over months through various means such as analyzing intelligence reports, he said.

The terrorists had planned to launch this attack using a explosive laden motor bike.

Officials are combing the island to trace the explosive laden bike and the suicide cadre who were directed to crash into the motorcade of the Defence Secretary.

”It is reported that they had planned to station a female suicide cadre to target the ambulance in which the Defence Secretary is brought to the Hospital if he escapes with injuries.

DIG Mediwaka said investigating the owner of the house has already been started. “We are conducting investigations to determine the period during which these explosive items were brought to this housing scheme,” he said.