False bomb alarm prompts evacuation

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 20 January 1999, 10:17 GMT]
Students and staff at two schools in Colombo were evacuated following a false bomb alarm this morning. Anonymous callers had told the authorities at Ananda College in Maradana, close to downtown Colombo and another school at Muttuwal that powerful bombs were planted in the premises of their schools and could go off at any time.

The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) and Police rushed to these schools immediately and evacuated everyone. Other schools in Colombo were also alerted.

A thorough investigation revealed this afternoon that the callers had created a false alarm.

Police sources investigating the matter said that the bomb scare could be the work of some elements which are opposed to the educational reforms that are currently under way in the state run schools of the country.