Harvesting Time

Police found a sniper gun and ammunition in northwestern Sri Lanka on Monday ahead of a planned visit to the area by President Chandrika Kumaratunga, officials said.







Police found a sniper gun and ammunition in northwestern Sri Lanka on Monday ahead of a planned visit to the area by President Chandrika Kumaratunga, officials said. The weapon, together with two pistols and ammunition, was found near Marawila, 70 kilometres (45 miles) north of the capital Colombo, a police official said by telephone.

The defence ministry in a statement said the arms and ammunition found Monday were similar to those used by Tamil Tiger guerrillas.

"It is suspected that those arms and ammunition, generally used by Tamil Tigers, would have been smuggled into the area with the intention of carrying out a high profile assassination or any other criminal act," it said.

A police official said the weapons and ammunition had been taken to Colombo for further investigations.

Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was assassinated by a sniper on August 12, but the murder weapon is yet to be recovered although two men have been arrested in connection with the killing.

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