Grenade in luggage caused bus-explosion: Govt.

By Skandha Gunasekara 

Our Lobby Correspondent

The Government yesterday told Parliament that the explosion in the bus travelling through Diyatalawa, injuring 19 including 12 military personnel, had been caused by a grenade.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe made a statement revealing these details, in response to a question raised by Joint Opposition Parliamentary group leader MP Dinesh Gunawardena.

The Premier said that he had inquired from both the Minister of Law and Order and the Army Commander regarding the issue, and they in turn had informed him that a grenade had caused the explosion. 

“The grenade is believed to have been inside the luggage belonging to one of the commuters,” he said.

Law and Order Minister Sagala Ratnayaka too confirmed that the grenade had exploded from inside a bag of a commuter.

“Investigations are being carried out and a forensic team has been deployed to gather more evidence so that we have a clear picture. We will have more information on the incident soon,” Minister Ratnayaka said.

Seven army and five air force personnel along with seven civilians were injured in a fire following the explosion on the passenger bus which operated from northern Jaffna peninsula to central town of Diyathalawa, where one of the main military training centers is located.

Reuters quoted the military spokesman, Sumith Atapattu as saying the blast was not the result of an attack.

“We rule out any terrorist attack. One thing we can say is that somebody has carried a grenade or similar item illegally,” he said, adding that police were investigating.