Seventeen (17) Muslims apprehended during naval operations conducted in last 48 hours
During the last 48 hours Sri Lanka Navy, except its routine patrols, has apprehended suspects and explosives during special raids conducted at various locations in the island, in view of ensuring the national security.
Accordingly, 05 Muslims possessing 05 shot guns with 59 rounds of live ammunition have been apprehended whilst a raid conducted in Mollikulam and the suspects have been handed over to the Kalpitiya Police.
6-inch-long 10 pieces of PVC pipe and 8-inch-long12 pieces of PVC pipe each filled with low explosives, M-16 blank ammo, 02 oil bottles used for weapon cleaning, 02 MPMG cleaning kits, 02 web belt runners have been recovered by Navy in Kalmunai beach area. The PVC pipes filled with explosive were detonated in controlled explosion.
A Muslim who possessed an identity card of another person was apprehended by naval personnel on duty at the main gate of Sri Jayawardenapura Hospital and the suspect was handed over to the Mirihana Police.
Navy recovered 2 swords and 12 knives at a location in front of the Defence Services College in Kurunegala and the items were handed over to the Kurunegala Police.
Two tubes of water gel, 04 non electric detonators, a feet long safety fuse were recovered by the Navy during a raid carried out in Jinnapuram area in Trincomalee and the recovered items were handed over to the Pulmudai Police.
During search operations conducted in Colombo, 10 mobile phones hidden in a dust bin were recovered by the Navy and the items were handed over to the Police for onward investigation.
06 safety fuses, each long 06 inches and further 02 safety fuses, each long 02 feet were recovered by the Navy whilst on patrol at Wankaleipadu area in Mannar and they were destroyed.
03 Muslims who kept videos related to the bomb blasts took place in recent times were arrested during a raid at Modaragamarru area in Eluwankulama and the suspects were handed over to the Wanathawilluwa and Silswathura Police.
A Muslim who was unable to prove his identity was arrested by the Navy at Kandakkuliya area in Kalpitiya and then handed over to the Kalpitiya Police for further investigation.
Three (03) Muslims were arrested during a special raid carried out in Colombo suburbs. Accordingly, one suspect had 07 mobile phones in his possession. The onother person had two bank accounts to which approximately Rs. 30 million had been transferred from Saudi Arabia over past 07 months. The other person had 45 DVD/CDs, 2 blank cartridge cases, and 13 sims. Further, 03 mobile phones, 19 Islamic books, 2 sims, 10 nos. of various bank pass books, 18 bank receipts, 4 ATM cards and a suspicious letter written in Tamil were recovered by Navy during another raid and all the items were handed over to respective Police stations.
A Muslim who was travelling on a motor bike carrying a uniform of STF, was taken into naval custody in Kotahena area and he was handed over to the Kotahena Police for further investigation.
Another Muslim for keeping illegal video footages was nabbed in Modaragamaru area and handed over to the Silawathura Police for further investigation.
Navy nabbed a Muslim with 669 lead balls and a number plate of a motorbike in Fort area in Galle and he was handed over to the Galle Police.
Twelve (12) Pakistani nationals were arrested by the Navy in Ja-Ela area and were handed over to the Ja-Ela Police. Out of those 12 suspects only two persons had visa.
Continuous security duties and extensive cordon and search operations are being conducted at religious places, hospitals and other public places by the Navy, Army, Air Force and Police to ensure the preservation of national security.
