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Suicide bombers kill 18 in Colombo

P Mohan Das in Colombo

At least 18 people were killed and more than 50 injured in a series of powerful explosions and gun fire by a dozen LTTE suicide bombers in the heart of Colombo, a few km away from the Sri Lankan Parliament on Friday evening.

Among those killed were six policemen and three suicide bombers. The condition of several of the injured is reported to be critical.

The police have recovered the bodies of one suicide bomber and one gunman from the scene. Some suicide kits, highly sophisticated arms and ammunitions have also been recovered.

The army and the police have cordoned off the entire Borella-Castle street area and launched a massive search operation.

Security in Colombo has been tightened.

The incident occurred at 1745 hrs. Apparently the militants were waiting for a VIP to emerge from the Parliament building.

When police got suspicious, the militants opened fire. Simulataneously, the suicide bombers detonated the bombs killing at least five policemen on the spot.

This is the fourth major suicide bomb attack in Colombo after the Town Hall bomb explosion in which President Chandrika Kumaratunga escaped with an eye injury on December 18 last year.

Another suicide bomber had struck at Jai Ela the same day killing a retired army officer.

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