Chandrika, 3 ministers wounded in blast
Colombo DIG, 14 others killed

COLOMBO, Dec 18 (UNI) — Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga had a miraculous escape when a powerful bomb exploded, apparently triggered by a LTTE suicide bomber, at an election rally tonight while 25 persons (16, according to AFP and PTI), including Colombo DIG and a retired army major, were killed and more than 100 injured in two blasts here.

Curfew has been imposed in entire Colombo and Gampaha district.

According to sources, Ms Kumaratunga was admitted to Navaloka Hospital and was stated to be out of danger.

Colombo DIG T.N. de Silva was among the 15 persons killed in the explosion at the election rally addressed by Ms Kumaratunga at the town hall grounds here at 9.30 p.m. (local time).

At least three senior Cabinet ministers, including Mr Alavi Maulana, were seriously injured.

Unconfirmed reports said more than 60 persons were injured.

In another explosion at an Opposition UNP rally at Jaela, about 15 km from here, 10 persons, including a retired army major, were killed.

About 40 persons were injured in the incident. The major was identified as Lucky Algama who was security commander of Wanni.

Initial reports said the first explosion at the town hall grounds took place when the President finished her speech and was about to get into her car. She received injuries on her hand, sources say.

A PTI report said a woman LTTE suicide bomber made a bid to rush towards the president in an attempt to embrace her but was stopped by policemen a few yards away, officials said.

Ms Kumaratunga’s driver was also killed in the blast.

The Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Prof G L Peirs, who was following the President, also survived with injuries, the police said.

Ms Kumaratunga, with some injuries, was escorted out by her securitymen, said Priyantha Samarasekhara, who was due to sing at the public meeting.

The extent of injuries remained unclear yet.

Star TV correspondent Maya Mirchandani, who was talking to Ms Kumaratunga when the blast took place, said she saw the President falling down and being quickly escorted out by her bodyguards.

Mirchandani and Star TV photographer Gaurav escaped unhurt in the blast but blood was splashed over their faces.

Army troops and the police immediately surrounded the place as ambulances rushed the injured to hospitals.

Confusion prevailed after the blast as the government-run hospitals were closed due to strike and the President and other injured had to be rushed to private hospitals.

An AFP report said Sri Lanka imposed an indefinite curfew in the capital and neighbouring districts following the two bomb attacks which left President Kumaratunga wounded.

The curfew will go into effect immediately, the Defence Ministry said.

The curfew was imposed after a powerful bomb attack in the capital where President Kumaratunga was addressing a public meeting just three days before her re-election bid.

Tonight’s explosions came as both Ms Kumaratunga and her arch rival Ranil Wickramasinghe of the UNP were winding up their residential campaigns. Today was the last day of campaigning.

The LTTE’s suicide blast came at the end of a bitter political campaign in which Ms Kumaratunga and Mr Wickramasinghe made derogatory remarks against each other.

LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran too pitched in, terming the President as the worst enemy of Tamils before launching massive attacks at Northern Vanni and Jaffna to defeat her military strategy.

It is still not clear that in the light of the two blasts tonight whether Ms Kumaratunga and the Election Commission will go ahead with the December 21 presidential elections.

Maj Lucky Algama, who was killed in the blast at the UNP rally, was recently subjected to intense interrogation for his alleged role in instigating some top army officials in the Northern Vanni to desert their positions in the wake of LTTE counter-attacks on November 1.

The army lost 10 small towns and a lot of territory as troops in large numbers fled to safer areas. An inquiry is on into the army’s failure.

Earlier, campaign for Sri Lanka’s crucial presidential poll on December 21 ended this evening amid heavy fighting between government troops and LTTE rebels in the north, as President Chandrika Kumaratunga and her arch rival Ranil Wickramasinghe made a last-minute bid to woo undecided voters in Colombo and nearby areas. The security forces have stepped up vigil to prevent LTTE suicide bombers from hitting important installations ahead of the poll.