He said no conclusion could be reached until the completion of the investigation as to what had caused the incident – due to negligence or that it had been a planned explosion.

Military spokesman Brig. Jayanath Jayaweera said investigations were underway separately by an investigation board comprising senior armed forces officers, Army preliminary investigation court and the CID.

A magisterial inquiry will take place into the death of a soldier during the incident, he said.

Brig. Jayaweera refuted allegations the Army intelligence had been withdrawn from the investigations.