Sri Lankan police find massive explosives haul

Colombo, May 14 (Xinhua-ANI): The Sri Lankan police have found a massive haul of C4 explosives hidden in a bunker by Tamil Tiger rebels in the north of the country, a police spokesman said on Monday.

The explosives weighing over 6,000 kg is the largest haul of C4 explosives to have been recovered following the end of the 30-year war between the military and the rebels.

Police spokesman Ajith Rohana told Xinhua that the explosives were found in Pudukuduirippu by a police team on Sunday night.

Pudukuduirippu was under the control of the Tamil Tigers before the army took over the area in 2009.

Rohana said the explosives were probably hidden to be used for some sort of attack just before the rebels were defeated.

The recovery of the massive explosives haul came just days before Sri Lanka celebrates three years since the end of the war and the defeat of the Tamil Tigers.

The police spokesman said that during a search operation on Sunday in other parts of the north, which were earlier under rebel control, several Tamil Tiger gas masks, grenades, anti-tank bombs and other explosive material were also found.

Sri Lanka defeated the rebels in May 2009 but continues to recover weapons, mines and explosives hidden by the Tamil Tigers during the civil war.

A massive victory day parade is to be held in Colombo this week to celebrate the third anniversary since the end of the war. (Xinhua-ANI)