Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today said that the explosives found in Chavakachcheri were wrapped in a newspaper from the year 2008.

Speaking at an event today, he said that discovery of old weapons and explosives were not strange occurrences in a country which experienced a war.

Weapons and bombs from the Second World War era are found from several countries even now, he added.

Wickremesinghe also revealed that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa had called him and asked him to carry out an investigation on this matter.

Rajapaksa should also help the government in this attempt to investigate the incident by revealing any information he has, Wickremesinghe said. All responsible people should come together and look into the matter, he added.

He also queried as to how Prof. GL Peiris knew that the explosives were to be brought to Wellawatte. If he knew the information and did not reveal it, it is a serious matter, Wickremesinghe said.