The Govt. Analyst has been summoned to carry out an investigation on the matter which caused the postponement of Parliament this morning. The investigations are under way assisted by Special Task Force and the security forces along with the Parliament staff. The security forces doubt that the gum used for pasting the carpets is of a smell similar to explosives.

The Parliament was postponed this morning due to unusual behaviour of the dogs used for detecting explosives on a routine check done before the Parliament is commenced. As a result after a very brief sitting, the Speaker decided to extend the Parliament until 14^th February 2006.

Parliament sittings suspended due to Bomb scare

There was a bomb scare at Parliament premises this morning. As a routine before the opening of Parliament security checks are being carried out by the security staff.

On this morning the usual detective dogs were sniffing at the place where the TNA parliamentarians are seated in the House. Since they refused to move away from this place, the Parliamentary staff became very suspicious about the dogs' movements.

When this situation was informed to the Speaker he summoned a meeting of Party leaders immediately. A decision was taken at this meeting to have a thorough search at the Premises. Consequently the security staff of the House removed the carpets where the TNA MPs are seated but they couldn't find anything. However the security staff was not satisfied and informed the authorities that a further search would be advisable.

Accordingly they wanted to test the dogs and had hidden some explosives somewhere else in the Premises and waited whether the dogs would detect the same. Then the dogs went to this place and were sniffing as earlier. On this situation the security staff informed that they could not guarantee about the safety.

They informed that they would have to check the Premises further, specially the underground of the place where the TNA MPs are seated as some pipes are laid there. As they said this search would take another one hour or so, the Parliament which met for a short while decided to suspend the sittings. At this juncture the TNA MPs who came into the Chamber began to protest. Around 10.10 a.m. the Speaker announced the Parliament will be put off until 14th February 2006.