Prabha’s weapon found

By Sarashi Samarasinghe

A weapon believed to have belonged to LTTE Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, along with 2,000 kilos of RDX explosives – commonly known as cyclonite – and a large stock of other military items were found last evening by the Special Crimes Unit (SCU) of the Kilinochchi Police in the Vellamulliwaikkal area in Mullaitivu.
Senior DIG for Vavuniya, Nimal Lewke speaking to The Bottom Line confirmed that the weapon found, an M-16A2 with a 40 millimetre (mm) grenade launcher was that used by the LTTE Leader as his personal weapon.
The gun had been found together with a body amour.
“The type of weapon that was found last evening, which was used by Prabhakaran, has also been used by the Special Task Force (STF) since 1984 and it is also used by the Navy,” said Lewke.
He added that it is believed that the weapon was stolen by Prabhakaran during the war.
According to initial reports, the military items were buried at least 15 feet underground and were transported to the Vavuniya Senior DIG’s Office upon discovery.
The weapon haul included 2,500 7.62 mm bullets, 250 grams of gun powder, 88 suicide kits, 50 claymores stands and detonators, 46 artillery fuses, 25 Johnny mines and anti-aircraft guns, along with many others.