Teenage LTTE suspect held for Colombo blast

Teenage LTTE suspect held for Colombo blast
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

COLOMBO, JUNE 19: Sri Lankan police claimed to have arrested a teenage LTTE suspect who was wanted in connection with the bomb blast at suburban Wattala on June 14 in which three persons were killed and seven injured.

The arrested Tamil boy, son of a resident of Wattala was first declared absconding. But he was later found to have been injured in the same blast and undergoing treatment in one of the city hospitals for his wounds.

Police believe the boy handed over a bag containing explosives to a Sinhalese carpenter, Padmasiri Mendis. The bomb exploded when the bicycle on which Mendis was riding, collided with a motorcyclist.

Police initially said the bomb was meant to target an Air Force bus which was carrying over 30 Air Force personnel from airport to the city.

However, police officials were quoted in the official media today as saying that the boy has hired Mendis, a drug addict, to carry the bomb for a pre-planned attack. The wife of the carpenter has also been taken into custody for further investigations.