Death toll rises to Seven People

At least 7 civilians were killed and more than 50 wounded in a bomb blast around 4.45 p.m. Monday at Dehiwela in Colombo inside a packed compartment of a train bound from Maradana to Panandura, according to initial reports. Police said a parcel bomb had went off inside the 5th compartment of the train.

At least 4 civilians were killed in Dehiwala Bomb

A bomb explosion occurred in side the Colombo-Panadura train while it reaching to the Dehiwala railway station around 4.45 p.m. sources said around four persons were killed and another 27 were injured. Monday at Dehiwela in Colombo inside a packed compartment of a train bound from Maradana to Panandura, according to initial reports. Police said a parcel bomb had went off inside the 5th compartment of the train.

Bomb Blast Update

Four Person killed in casualty details so far-mil spokesman. Bomb blast in Panadura bound train, at 4.45pm.



"A loud explosion shook a suburban railway station in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo on Monday, a police officer said."-Reuters

explosion occurred in Train

Bomb blast in Panadura bound train, a short while ago. The blast occurred at the Dehiwala Railway station. Many causalities, said the sources.

Update:

According to the available information the explosion took place around 4.55 p.m and the victims were being rushed to the hospitals.

Bomb @ train

Sound of explosion head from Train in Dehiwala.

Chief Ministership to be rotated

Eastern Provincial Council Chief Ministership is to be rotated amongst the three community leaders elected recently at the provincial council election.

Just after the elections to the Provincial Council, United Peoples Freedom Alliance which emerged victorious with 18+ 2 bonus = 20 seats out of the total of 37, appointed Chanthirakanthan Sivanesathurai, the Tamil candidate from the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal as Chief Minister of the East.

After a period of two years, he is to be succeeded by Minister M.L.A.M Hisbullah, a Muslim community candidate for the next two years. After Hisbullah, a Sinhalese elected from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party within the UPFA is to be given the Chief Ministership for the balance period of one year.

The issue of Chief Ministership was considererd in the midst of the UPFA as a contentious issue and earlier, Hisbullah demanded that he should be made the Chief Minister as Muslims have won 8 out of the 18 UPFA elected seats.