Sri Lanka says reports of blast near capital

COLOMBO, June 23 (Reuters) Sri Lanka's military today said it had reports of an explosion some 10 km north of the capital, Colombo, possibly close to the main airport.

However, a defence ministry spokesman said the reports were still extremely sketchy.

A spokesman for the defence ministry said the explosion appeared to have taken place near Welisara, the site of a suspected Tamil Tiger claymore fragmentation mine attack earlier in the month that wounded two people.

''There is an explosion near Welisara,'' the spokesman said.

Welisara is the site of a naval camp between Colombo and the island's only international airport, and is also close to the coast.

Other sources said the blast might have been at sea.

REUTERS SY PM1054