'Chanuka visited safe house' - [ CDN ] [ 21:26 GMT, Jan. 4, 2002 ] - by: Jayantha Sri Nissanka

Former Deputy Minister Defence Anuruddha Ratwatte's son Chanuka had allegedly visited the military intelligence Millennium City safe house during election time, where a large haul of arms was recovered by Police, a senior police officer probing the case told the Daily News yesterday.
"If this is a Military intelligence safe house what had Chanuka Ratwatte got to do there ? My informant told me that there is a private armoury at the Athurugiriya Millennium City and he told me that Chanuka had visited this place several times before the election," he said.
The UNP revealed during the election period that there was a conspiracy to attack the UNP propaganda bus and assassinate leader Ranil Wickremesinghe with the knowledge of Military intelligence officers. When the UNP wrote to Army Commander Lionel Balagalle, he denied that the Army was planing to kill the UNP leader,
Police also recovered three claymore mines placed in a culvert in a Panvila to kill UNP MP Keheliya Rambukwella. However, he escaped after recovering these three mines. Police also suspect that these three claymore mines have released from this Private armoury, the Police officer said.
Police recovered 17 items from this house including 66 LTTE camouflage kits, a cyanide capsule, six large claymore mines, 10 anti-tank mines, eight small claymore mines, four light anti-tank rocket launchers, 20 fuses used for claymore mines, 17 detonators, two T 56 weapons, 12 magazines and 418 rounds of ammunition, protective plastic eye covers, nine wire rolls, three remote control antennas, etc.
"It is understandable if the Army keeps such armouries in places like Vavuniya, Batticaloa, Jaffna, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, etc. But why did the Army keep landmines, anti-tank rocket launchers, cyanide capsules, LTTE camouflage kits in a place like Colombo," he questioned. Police are investigating whether these Military officers were involved in the Udatalawinna massacre.
A news release from the Defence Ministry said the Police and the Army have already commenced a through investigation in to the incident. The Ministry has decided to take suitable follow up action based on the evidence that would emerge during the investigation and take appropriate action against those responsible. Therefore, the Ministry requests all parties concerned not to panic or to arrive at conclusions. A complete statement will be issued by the Ministry on completion of these investigations, the release concluded.