Date:30/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/30/stories/2008093056361700.htm

International

Minor blast in Colombo; 3 people injured

B. Muralidhar Reddy

COLOMBO: A minor explosion in the capital on Monday triggered anxiety among citizens amid reports of an all out effort by the military to capture Kilinochchi.

The unease among citizens comes in the wake of reports of the imminent fall of Kilinochchi and apprehensions of the LTTE attempting to select “soft targets” in the capital and other cities outside its control.

However, the military and police said they have not let their guard down and are prepared to meet any eventuality. A Defence Ministry statement said the explosion occurred in a car park near Colombo Fort just after noon. Three civilians were injured and six vehicles damaged.

The Ministry has not blamed the LTTE yet. Following similar low-intensity blasts that rocked Colombo a few months ago, President Mahinda Rajapaksa had hinted at the possibility of non-LTTE elements resorting to such tactics to take advantage of the security environment.