3 bomb blasts rock Sri Lanka

By V.S.Sambandan

COLOMBO, FEB. 3. At least 20 persons were reported injured in three separate bus explosions in Sri Lanka, as the island geared up to celebrate its 52nd Independence Day. No one was killed in the blasts, but at least in one of the bombings a disaster was averted as the bomb exploded before the bus reached a re-fuelling station.

The blasts commenced this morning in a bus from Batticaloa, injuring three persons, all of whom were crew members. The bus was reportedly heading towards a re-fuelling station in Colombo when the explosion took place.

The second blast occured this evening in a bus bound for Colombo from Kurunegela in the North-Western Province, injuring at least 10 persons. As the day progressed, with security being stepped up at all entry points into the capital, 10 persons were injured in an explosion at Kadawatte, near Colombo in a bus heading towards Kandy.

The three blasts came on the eve of celebrations of the island's independence in the Parliamentary Enclave in Colombo and in the backdrop of intensified search operations which have been on since January.

The President, Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga, is listed to participate in the celebrations tomorrow in what would be her first public appearance since she survived a suicide bomb attack on December 18. But the state-run media reported today that she is ``indisposed'' and ``will rest for a few days.''

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : Muivah gets one year jail term
Next     : UNP suffers setback