Plot to Assassinate PM and Incriminate LTTE Uncovered

Controversy over police raid on army officer’s Millennium City residence

By Shamindra Ferdinando

“Six persons - two Muslims, a Sinhalese and three Tamils - all on army’s payroll were arrested along with four thermobaric weapons, seven 10kg claymore mines, ten 1kg claymore mines, three T-56 Chinese manufactured assault rifles along with over 400 rounds of ammunition, ten anti-tank weapons, detonators, cyanide capsules, exploders, remote control devices and wire rolls. The raiding party also recovered 66 sets of new LTTE uniforms.”

Controversy surrounds Wednesday’s police raid on an army officer’s house in Millennium City in the Aturugiriya police area with senior army sources claiming that police have raided one of their safe houses described as the ‘home’ for a covert operations unit engaged in missions in LTTE held areas.

However investigators said that they firmly believe the so called covert operations unit was involved in an abortive plot to assassinate UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe during run - up to the December 5 parliamentary elections. A few weeks before the elections, the UNP leader claimed that he was aware of a plot to mount a claymore mine attack on the bus he used on the campaign trail.

The then UNP Chairman Charitha Ratwatte and the Vice Chairman Daya Palpola wrote to Army Commander Lt. Gen. Lionel Balagalle claiming men under his command were planning to assassinate the UNP leader. Balagalle promptly denied the allegation.

Police said that they have information to suggest that the group arrested on Wednesday was involved in the earlier plot. However, following the UNP led United National Front’s victory at the parliamentary elections, the group operating under the directions of the Military Intelligence and the Directorate of Military Intelligence [DMI] was apparently making plans to sabotage the ongoing peace process. Six persons - two Muslims, a Sinhalese and three Tamils - all on army’s payroll were arrested along with four thermobaric weapons, seven 10kg claymore mines, ten 1kg claymore mines, three T-56 Chinese manufactured assault rifles along with over 400 rounds of ammunition, ten anti-tank weapons, detonators, cyanide capsules, exploders, remote control devices and wire rolls. The raiding party also recovered 66 sets of new LTTE uniforms. Police expressed the belief that the group could have mounted a major attack in Colombo in a bid to sabotage the Norwegian facilitated bid to bring the two sides back to the negotiating table.

Responding to questions, army sources claimed that the group of operatives was not involved in any anti-government plot. The sources pointed out that the operatives had returned to Colombo on December 27 along with their equipment. They had been operating in the LTTE held area, the sources said adding that they had returned to the government held area soon after the new government declared a cessation of hostilities that came into operation at midnight on the Christmas eve. Later they arrived in Colombo, the sources said adding that hours before the police raid some of the equipment issued to the unit had been handed over to military intelligence. The raid came just hours before rest of the equipment was to be handed over.

Responding to further questions, the sources said that the issue of all armaments has been documented. The sources claimed that the raid had bared the existence of the unit and that they would not be able to operate in the uncleared area again.

The LTTE has repeatedly accused the DMI of deploying what they have described as deep penetration units of the army that have staged attacks in areas under their control. The LTTE has claimed that these units have killed at least three senior LTTE cadres including one involved in the negotiations with the Norwegians.

Wednesday’s raid had been carried out by the Kandy Crimes and Operations division responsible for the ongoing inquiry into the Udathalawinna massacre where a platoon of Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment [VIR] had been detained in connection with their alleged involvement in the polls-day slaughter . Police sources said that they believed at least one of the key suspects wanted in connection with the Udathalawinna massacre believed to be a son of the then Deputy Defence Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte was hiding there. However, police failed to find Ratwatte and instead came across the arms and so called intelligence operatives tasked with a major anti-government operation. But, the military vehemently denied this allegation while accusing the police of destroying a covert operations unit responsible for successful operations in the uncleared area.

Police sources said that they believe the same group was responsible for trying to blow up a UNP parliamentary elections candidate contesting the Kandy district just before polls-day. Investigators were trying to establish whether the group had anything to do with planting two powerful claymore mines under a culvert along the Wattegama - Panwila road.

The suspects and the stock of armaments recovered on Wednesday had been moved to Colombo.