Army officer who brought the grenade in the bus to Diyathalawa recovering

Mon, Feb 26, 2018, 12:25 am SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Feb 25, Colombo: Condition of a Sri Lanka Army Sergeant Major who is suspected of carrying a grenade that exploded in a private passenger bus in Kahagolla, Diyathalawa last week injuring 19 people including himself, is improving, police sources said.

The explosion occurred in a private bus on last Wednesday (21) early morning while it was plying in the general area of Kahagolla, Diyathalawa injuring 19 passengers including seven Army personnel and five Air Force personnel.

The Sergeant Major also received serious injuries in the blast and subsequent fire that gutted the bus and is receiving treatment in the intensive Care Unit.

According to police sources, the Sergeant Major will be transferred to a regular ward from the ICU and the police will record a statement when he is transferred.

The police say the grenade was a very old one that has been buried for a while and therefore when it fell from the officer's bag the safety pin came off causing the explosion.

In addition to the police investigation, The Army also has launched its own investigation. The Army Commander recently appointed a six-member Court of Inquiry to probe the incident. The Court of Inquiry is expected to submit its findings and the report within a few days to the Commander of the Army.

Police investigations are being conducted on the instructions of SSP Sudath Mahesh in charge of Bandarawela Division.