• 81 gelignite sticks, 75 kg of ammonia nitrate, 107 non-electrical detonators, and 360 metres of service thread were recovered during the raid.

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya

A 39-year-old man has been arrested by the Special Task Force of Police (STF) with explosive materials during a raid in Mirigama. 

The STF seized 81 gelignite sticks, 75 kg of ammonia nitrate, 107 non-electrical detonators, and 360 metres of service thread during the raid.

During further questioning, the intelligence revealed that the suspect used to buy and store these explosives in order to sell them to other parties.

The suspect, a resident of Mirigama, was handed over to the Mirigama Police for further investigations.

The raid was carried out based on a tip-off received by the intelligence unit and a team of STF personnel led by CI Nadika Silva, under the supervision of STF commandant DIG Waruna Jayasundara.

• The suspect had purchased and stored the explosives in order to sell them to a third party