Police probe mystery powder at US embassy

Police have initiated a probe over the suspicious powder discovered at the US Embassy premises in Colombo on Wednesday almost 24 hours after a complaint was lodged over the incident.

The police had earlier told the media they were not investigating the incident as a complaint was not lodged by the Embassy authorities.

Police Media spokesmen Ranjith Gunasekera said the Chief Security Officer of the Embassy last morning lodged a complaint with the police regarding the discovery, almost 24 hours after it was reported to the media.A sample of the substance was sent to the Medical Research Institute for investigations.

The U.S. embassy was closed on Wednesday after the powder was found in the premises.

"The suspicious substance will be sent to a laboratory for analysis. Until the results are received and a determination is made that the substance does not pose health or safety risks, the embassy will be closed to the public," it said in an e-mailed statement.

The heavily-guarded embassy has thrice been closed in the past after suspicious powder was detected but on each occasion it turned out to be a false alarm.