43 to 45 wounded in Colombo market blast

Colombo, Aug.30 : At least 43 people have been wounded in an explosion in a Colombo market on Saturday.

Military sources said that the blast occurred near the city's main bus station, and added that no one had claimed responsibility as yet for the incident.

The blast comes as Sri Lankan forces continue to penetrate large tracts of rebel Tamil territory in the north and east of the island-nation, leading to the fleeing of tens of thousands of people from their homes in Kilinochchi District.

Three of the 43 wounded were said to be in serious condition.Dr. Anil Jansinghe, a director at Colombo National Hospital, said between 43 and 45 people had been admitted, and among them were two boys and four women.

A foreign news agency quoted Senior Superintendent of Police Ranjith Gunasekara as saying that the bomb had gone off between 12 noon and 12.10.

"Initial investigations show that the bomb contained 75-80 g of explosives and that it was a time bomb. We think it was hidden in a cardboard box, the way it had been placed most of the injuries to the people must be below the waist," he was further quoted, as saying

The Tamil Tigers have been fighting for a separate homeland in the north and east for 25 years, and so far, over 70,000 people have died. The government blames the rebels for a string of bomb attacks on public targets amid the offensive in the north.

ANI