Sri Lanka

Suicide bomber kills 27

Article published on the 2008-10-06 Latest update 2008-10-06 15:53 TU

Victims at the site of a suicide bomb explosion in north-central Anuradhapura
(Photo: Reuters)

A suicide bomber killed 27 people, including a former senior army official, in northern Sri Lanka. Retired general Janaka Perera died alongside his wife in the attack. Eighty people were injured. The bombing took place in the northern town of Anuradhapura, at the opening ceremony for an office of the main opposition United National Party.

General Perera was the provincial leader of the United National Party (UNP). Officials said it was likely that he was the target of the blast.

The party accused the government of not providing adequate security for him.

"The government must take full responsibility. They did not give him adequate security for political reasons," said party official, Tissa Attanayake.

"The government made him a target," UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella told RFI.

 

Perera had been credited with some of the army's biggest victories over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), including a 1996 battle in which 200 rebels were killed with the loss of just one soldier.

The Defence Ministry blamed the LTTE for the blast.

Sri Lanka's army is closing in on the Tigers' northern base in Kilinochchi.

Army Chief Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka announced at the weekend that his troops were within two kilometres of the rebel group's headquarters in the region. Kilinochchi is the political capital of the LTTE-controlled northern zone, and is a key strategic base for the group.

Aid workers evacuated the northern region three weeks ago, and many residents of Kilinochchi fled as the fighting moved closer.

 

The LTTE have been fighting for an independent Tamil state for over 30 years.