Defence Secy escapes LTTE assassination bid

Explosives-laden three wheeler rams convoy:

Rafik JALALDEEN and Rohan MATHES

COLOMBO: Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa narrowly escaped an LTTE assassination bid in Colombo yesterday, when a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden three wheeler into his convoy.

Two soldiers were killed in the explosion while 13 others, including civilians, were injured. A headless body, suspected to be that of the suicide bomber, was seen in the back of a pick up truck.

Defence Secretary Rajapaksa was in a bullet-proof BMW 7 Series car.

An unscathed Rajapaksa was whisked off to Temple Trees, where his elder brother, President Mahinda Rajapaksa greeted and embraced him. A previously scheduled National Security Council meeting was then held with their participation.

The incident occurred near the traffic lights at Piththala Junction, Dharmapala Mawatha, (Green Path section) Kollupitiya around 10.35 a.m.

According to defence sources, Army commandos in the back-up trail motorcycles and Land Rover Defenders successfully obstructed the three wheeler and reduced the effectiveness of the blast.

"Dharmapala Mawatha was sealed off for security reasons and more than eight vehicles were badly damaged including a VIP vehicle and a Land Rover," defence sources said.

A civilian car was completely burnt and two other civilian cars were also severely damaged. Several nearby houses and buildings were also damaged.

"We have collected explosives materials from the scene. At the moment we can only say that the C4 explosive was fixed in the three wheeler and the explosive charge was around 10 kilos," a spokesman for the Government's Analyst's Department said. The three wheeler was a complete wreck.

Two suspects were arrested in connection with the incident. The three wheeler used by the bomber identified as WP GH-0617 belonged to a person in Grandpass, Police sources said. It has changed hands several times, they said.

Colombo National hospital Director Dr. Hector Weerasinghe said that 14 injured persons were admitted to the hospital for treatment and two of them had left after being treated for minor injuries.

Police cordoned off the blast site and launched a search operation for any accomplices who may have helped the suicide bomber carry out the attack.

The Criminal Investigation Department and Colombo Crimes Division are conducting the investigation, IGP Victor Perera said. The road was later cleared of the debris.

Security has been increased in Colombo and other urban areas following the suicide blast. This incident follows the LTTE's abortive bid to assassinate Army Commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka and the assassination of Maj. Gen. Parami Kulathunga using suicide bombers.