Suicide Attack on Defence Secy: Key Suspect Arrested

VAVUNIYA Police on Wednesday, arrested a key suspect in the assassination bid on Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, on December 1, 2006 in Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo.

Police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekera said the suspect Dharmalingam Dharmatharan alias Kili had been living in the No Fire Zone and moved to Vavuniya along with other IDP’s.

Police arrested him on a tip off at the welfare centre operated at Tamil Maha Vidyalaya, Vavuniya, he said.

The suspect is now being interrogated by Vavuniya police and is expected to be brought to Colombo soon.

Rajapaksa’s bullet proof vehicle was damaged and Army commandos had to pull him out after opening the door of the car with a crow bar. Rajapaksa escaped unscathed.

Two people died and 15 persons including the then Foreign Secretary H. M. G. S. Palihakkara were injured.

Investigations revealed that the suicide bomber was from Jaffna and had been operating in Trincomalee and Vavuniya before moving to Colombo to undertake the job.
(Courtesy: The Island)