Sri Lanka

Suicide bomber on motorcycle explodes in Colombo

Article published on the 2008-05-16 Latest update 2008-05-16 09:21 TU

President Mahinda Rajapakse.
(Photo: AFP)

A suicide bomber riding a motorcycle crashed into a bus carrying police officers in Colombo Friday, killing six and wounding another 75. Officials were quick to blame the separatist militant Tamil Tigers for the attack, which resembles actions they have undertaken in the past.

It’s a tactic that is becoming more and more frequent in Sri Lanka: a suicide bomber targets a group of government forces – police or the army – and makes a swift entrance on motorcycle before detonating himself and killing those around him.

Friday’s attack took place in the neighborhood that houses Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse, and follows on the heels of a government offensive against the Tigers in the north of the country.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam have been fighting since 1972 for the independence of Hindus, concentrated in the north, from the Buddhist majority. The ensuing conflict has caused an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 deaths.

The fighting has been growing more intense since the 2002 Oslo ceasefire was broken in January.