Colombo bomb blast: 8 killed and 90 injured

Nine Police personnel were killed and over 90 casualties reported, following the LTTE suicide bomb attack near Lake House at around 12noon, today (May 16).

According to the available information, a motor bike riding LTTE suicide bomber fitted with a bomb rammed into a bus carrying Riot Control Police, opposite the Sambodiya Temple, located in the Lotus Road, killing at least 6 riot police personnel, 3 civilians and injuring around 90 people.

The police personnel were on their way to provide additional security as the swearing-in ceremony of the Eastern Province Chief Minister, which is to take place as scheduled today at 4:00 p.m.

According to the Dr. Hector Weerasinghe, Director of National Hiopital the bodies of killed 8 person are now lying the Colombo National Hospital mortuary and about 90 persons were injured. He added that a total of 17 police personnel were injured.The Director National Hospital, out of the injured persons, 20 are in a critical stage.

According to our reporter the causality figures continues to rise.