COLOMBO, Oct 11: Security for the president and prime minister carrying out party campaigning for the November 17 presidential polls have been tightened after the discovery of a possible assassination plan.

Police found a cache of arms in a paddy field on Monday at Marawila, Mahawewa, ahead of the president’s visit to the area.

The CID investigating the case believe that the arms had been left by LTTE cadres sent to target the president and other politicians from the south.

Among the arms were a sniper rifle, two revolvers, seven hand grenades and over 200 rounds of live ammunition.

A salesman working in a shop in the area had seen the large package in the paddy field and alerted the police.

The discovery was made a day ahead of a visit to the region by President Kumaratunga to address a rally supporting Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse’s bid for the presidency.