Suspect arrested over Wanathawilluwa explosives haul released due to political influence?

Information is being spread that one or several key suspects arrested over the haul of explosives seized in Wanathawilluwa area were released afterwards due to the influence of a high-profile politician, says Minister Kabir Hashim.

The minister stated this addressing the media at the press conference held at the Temple Trees yesterday (22).

One of these suspects is also in connection with the series of bomb attacks which took place across the country on Easter Sunday (April 21st), the minister further said.

On January 17th, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) had seized over 100kg of explosives and 100 detonators at Wanathawilluwa in Puttalam.

Information regarding the Wanathawilluwa explosives haul was obtained from interrogating the suspects arrested for vandalizing several Buddhist statues in Mawanella area last December.

The minister says that, realizing the severity of the Mawanella incident, the police and the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) were instructed to conduct a proper investigation in that regard.