Undefined Explosive Device (UED) event in Southern Province, Thihagoda in Matara District area, Sri Lanka on Wed 8th February 2023

A retired Army Sergeant was arrested, on February 8, after a team of Police from Matara District in Southern Province unearthed a cache of explosives, other accessories and ammunition from the garden of his house in Thihagoda in Matara District, reports Daily News. The Police recovered 3 kg and 350 grams of C04 high explosives, 01 bar of explosives weighing 610 grams, 2 bars of explosives weighing 205 grams each, 1 bar of explosives weighing 105 grams, 288 ammunition of 9mm type, T56 type 181 ammunition, five 3.8 mm type ammunition, 8 ammunition used for 12 bore type firearms, 10 electronic detonators used to detonate bombs, 153 non-electronic detonators, a smoke bomb, 32 feet of wire used to detonate explosive devices and several other items. The Police also recovered 153 sweet balls mixed with cannabis from a shop owned by the retired Army Sergeant. Investigations revealed that the suspected sergeant had taken the military equipment from an Army camp in Mullaitivu in Southern Province. Police information stated that the Police received information about these explosives from a person who heard the suspect talking about a deal to sell them to someone.