Wattala blast kills eight, injures 17

Rasika Somarathna

Eight persons were killed when a suspected LTTE suicide bomber blew himself, after entering the premises of a Civil Defense Force (CDF) post at Wattala around 9.00 am yesterday, Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said.

One Army officer, six SDF personnel and one civilian died while 17 others received serious injuries. Sources said a male suicide bomber had exploded himself after entering the premises of the CDF post, near a public fair close to St.Anne’s Church in Wattala.

An Army officer and four CDF personnel were killed on the spot, while three others had succumbed to their injuries after being admitted to hospital.

Colombo National Hospital sources said nine persons were admitted with grievous injuries in the aftermath of the blast, of which one person had died during surgery. Of the remaining eight persons five were CDF personnel and the other three were civilians, they added.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Director of the Ragama Teaching Hospital said 11 injured persons were admitted to hospital soon after the blast, of which two died during emergency surgery. Three others had been transferred to Colombo, while the rest were out of danger.

Of the total admitted seven were from the CDF, the doctor added. Authorities said a full probe had been launched into the incident following the blast.