Suicide blast in Colombo claims one life

Colombo, Nov 28: An LTTE woman suicide cadre blew herself up inside the office premises of Social services and Social welfare Ministry here this morning, killing one and injuring two others, Defence sources said.

''According to the available information, three people have suffered serious injuries in the incident and admitted to General Hospital Colombo. One of the victims succumbed to the injuries short while ago,'' the sources said, adding the suicide bomber was a handicap.

However, Minister of the Social services and Social welfare, Douglas Devanada, who is also the leader of the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP), a partner in President Mahinda Rajapaksa's ruling coalition, escaped unhurt in yet another attempt on his life, a party spokesman said.

Minister Devananda, an open critique of the LTTE, has been a long time target of the rebels and survived many attempts on his life in the past. In 2004, he survived a similar bid on his life here by a woman suicide cadre.

The party spokesman told UNI