Monday 26, January 1998


Hot News


Bomb explosion in Kandy

From L. B. Wijayasiri in Kandy

EXTENSIVE damage has been caused to the Dalada Maligawa building, due to a heavy explosion which took place at 6.10 am yesterday opposite the main entrance to the Dalada Maligawa causing death of eight persons and injuring about 25 others.

Among the bodies recovered were that of three LTTE terrorists who had come in a lorry carrying the explosives. Among the injured are police personnel and pilgrims who had come to make offerings to the Maligawa.

It is believed that the lorry carrying the explosives had come through King Street passing the main entrance to the President's Pavilion and breaking down the iron railing (road block) opposite the Vishnu Devale and driven towards the Dalada Maligawa entrance where it had exploded.

Buildings within a radius of more than five kilometres in the city had been damaged while almost all glass panes were broken. The sound of the explosion was heard about six to seven miles off Kandy.

The roof of the octagon, the walakulu bemma, and other buildings of the Dalada Maligawa have been damaged and the retaining wall by the side of the Natha Devale and the Bo Tree have also been damaged.

Five bodies believed to be of terrorists have been recovered and three bodies of civilians have also been found. About 25 injured persons have been admitted to the General Hospital, Kandy.

At the site of the explosion (on the road) opposite the Maligawa entrance (Maha Vahalkada) a chassis and some parts of the exploded vehicle, a T-56 gun, some grenades and parts have been found. Among the bodies found on the spot were of two terrorists clad in sarong and also a head of a body of a woman with long hair near the main entrance to the Maligawa.

On sighting the lorry coming towards the Maligawa, the army sentries have fired at it but the terrorists had resisted and driven forward.

The Diyawadana Nilama Neranjan Wijeyeratne told the media that he heard the blast when he was at home and rushed to the Maligawa.

He said that this was a barbaric and inhuman crime committed by terrorists who claimed to be fighting for liberation. The whole world could see the liberation they had achieved. Mr. Wijeyeratne broke down in the course of addressing the press.

Irrigation, Power and Energy Minister and Deputy Defence Minister General Anuruddha Ratwatte who rushed to the scene announced that the golden jubilee of national independence would be conducted as scheduled despite the barbaric act of the terrorists. He condemned the terrorist attack on this most revered place of worship.

Agriculture and Lands Minister D. M. Jayaratne who rushed to the scene accompanied by MP Wilson Kuruppuarachchi condemned the attack and said this attack clearly showed that the LTTE terrorists were most barbaric and inhuman.

The entire world saw now the uncivilised activities of the terrorists, he said.

DIG Central Range A. A. Samarasinghe is directing investigations with SSP Kandy Nimal Mediwaka assisted by ASP Wickremasinghe and HQI Saliya Silva.

Meanwhile a press release issued by the Operational Headquarters of the Ministry of Defence said yesterday: "A powerful bomb exploded opposite the Dalada Maligawa in Kandy today at 6.10 a.m. A suicide squad of the LTTE had proceeded in a lorry along Raja Veediya and had fired at the road blocks. The lorry crashed through the gate and exploded in front of the Dalada Maligawa.

"The bodies of two terrorists and five others who were in the vicinity were recovered. Due to the explosion, the entrance and the roof of the Dalada Maligawa were damaged. However the inner chamber of the Dalada Maligawa is intact.

"Police and security forces have commenced investigations".

Meanwhile Kumar Wettasinghe reporting from Kandy said:

"A crater eight feet deep and eight feet in diameter has been created opposite the Dalada Maligawa due to the explosion. Engine parts of the vehicle which carried the explosives could be seen inside the crater."

Residents have informed the Kandy police about a green-coloured Land Rover vehicle which had been seen leaving Kandy towards Ampitiya at about 6 a.m.

Industrial Development Minister C. V. Gooneratne visited the Dalada Maligawa and met Diyawadana Nilame Neranjan Wijeyaratne. He inspected the site of the blast and the Dalada Maligawa and had a conference at the office of the Diyawadana Nilame, along with Minister Ratwatte and Jayaratne.

General Ratwatte directed the officials to take immediate steps to effect repairs to those damages caused to the Dalada Maligawa by the blast and also to have adequate security measures at the Maligawa.

He directed that if there were any objects of archaeological value, those to be sent to the Archaeological Department.

General Ratwatte also directed the police and the security forces to take adequate measures to prevent any breach of peace in the city of Kandy following this incident. There could be a few black sheep or saboteurs who could instigate some unwanted incidents, he told Police.

Troops have recovered three bodies of terrorists and eight bodies of civilians. Twenty three injured civilians have been evacuated to the Kandy Hospital for treatment, a later official release said.

Troops also recovered three suicide jackets, two T 56 weapons, one disposable RPG, two intercom radio sets and 10 rounds of 40mm ammunition from the scene of the incident, the release said.

An Information Department release said: "Investigation conducted so far reveal that the LTTE terrorists have made an attempt to disrupt the arrangements being made to celebrate the independence on February 4, in Kandy.

"The government wishes to state that the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the Independence will be held in Kandy as scheduled on February 4".



The entrance to the Dalada Maligawa which was damaged in the blast.








The roof of the Sri Dalada Maligawa front buildings and the Octagen damaged by the blast that took place at 6.00 a.m. on Sunday. Some of the tiles were blown off.






(Pictures by Gamini Ramanayake, Kumar Wethasinghe and Gamini Ranasinghe)