Suspects in Army HQ Bomb Attack Remanded

THE COLOMBO FORT Magistrate and Additional District Judge Namal Bandara Balalle yesterday (21) ordered the remand of two suspects who were taken into custody in connection with the attack on the Army vehicle transporting Army Commander Lt Gen Sarath Fonseka by a LTTE woman suicide bomber on April 25, 2006. The order is valid until November 28.

The two suspects are Hemapala Ariyaratne, Grama Sevaka of Rambukkana and LTTE supporter Sahanmugalaingam Suriyakumar. The Grama Sevaka Ariyaratne is alleged to have assisted the suicide bomber to obtain a National Identity Card under a Muslim name.

Earlier, the Judge allowed an application by the Army to repair the Army vehicle in which Army Commander Sarath Fonseka was travelling during the suicide attack. The Army Commander was seriously injured in the blast which also killed 11 other Army personnel and a teacher. Twenty five persons were injured following the suicide bomb attack.

The dossier of the investigations had been forwarded to the Attorney General, the CID told the Judge. (Courtesy: Daily News)