Police on the lookout for four former Army officials, suspected of planning subversive activities on the Election Day

Special Task Force (STF) is after four former army officials, who are opposition presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka’s close aides, and alleged to be harboring Army deserters, absentees and also planning to unleash violence, on the election day and after.

Asian Tribune learnt that these are subversive elements suspected to be involved in the throwing grenades on the Koswatte home Tiran Alles National organizer of the SLFP Mahajana Wing to create sympathy for the candidature of Sarath Fonseka and unleashing violence and killings in the down south and in the Western provinces.

According to a police spokesman, they are looking for Senaka Arnold Haripriya de Silva alias Captain Shah Silva, who claims himself as the private secretary of the common opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka. The Police Spokesman said that his car was found at the Bodhirajarama Temple in Maligawatte on 23rd evening.

It is learnt that Senaka Arnold Haripriya de Silva, a former Army Captain was dismissed from the Army and he was once shot by the police while riding a motorcycle to collect ransom.

Furthermore, according to the police spokesperson, they are looking for former Major Susantha Athanayake, former Major General Upali Edrisinghe and former Colonel Sujath Jayasekera, who were alleged to be harboring army deserters and absentees and making them to participate in Sarath Fonseka’s election campaign.

Asian Tribune further learnt that these four former army officials were suspected in connection with lethal weapons recovered at the Bodhirajarama Temple in Maligawatte, where the Special Task Force personnel initially reported to have recovered 54 grenades and two T-56 weapons. It was alleged that these military items were stored for using to unleash violence by the main opposition on the eve of the Presidential elections and after.

So far STF had arrested 10 suspects, including a Chief Monk attached to a Colombo Temple and recovered a large quantity of weapons, cash of Rs 200,000 and several posters of Presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka. Two T 56 weapons, 119 bullets, six Magazines, 56 SSG hand bombs, two cyanide capsules, two security lamps, two smoke grenades, one micro pistol and 41 9mm bullets were also amonst those items that were recovered.

The STF special squad also recovered several National Identity Cards and rubber stamps from the same premises.

The raid was conducted by the special STF squad on the direction of STF Commandant Deputy Inspector General of Police K.M.L. Sarathchandra.

- Asian Tribune -