Did the group arrested with 100kg of explosives have foreign ties?

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The suspects who were arrested from Lakto-Watta, Wanathavilluwa recently by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for the possession of 100kg of explosives are being further interrogated. The courts have permitted the CID to interrogate the suspects under detention orders for 90 days beginning from the 17th of January. A raid was carried out on the 17th of January based on a tip-off to the CID regarding a suspect allegedly involved in the destruction of Buddha statues in the Mawanalla area, hiding out in a coconut estate in Wanathavilluwa. Four suspects including the owner of the coconut estate and a stock of explosives that were buried were taken into police custody following the raid. The police also found three barrels stocked with explosives, six cans of Nitric acid, 99 detonators, and few books published in Tamil and Arabic. Special police protection has now been deployed at this plot of land. Our correspondent in the area noted that capturing of photographs or any video footage of the location has been prohibited. Meanwhile, the CID is also conducting special investigations to probe whether or not the arrested group had foreign ties. The CID further stated that the individual who was suspected of destroying Buddha statues is still out in the open. The Police are to conduct further investigations to arrest this individual.