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Journalism of Courage
COLOMBO, JANUARY 5: Eleven people, including three women, were killed and 15 injured when a woman LTTE suicide bomber triggered an explosion near Sri Lankan Prime Minister’s office here on Wednesday.
The Prime Minister’s security division (PSD) intercepted the bomber, who could only speak Tamil, when she was nervously pacing up and down in front of the main gate of the PMO.
While the security staff were taking the help of a civilian interpreter, the suicide bomber set herself off, staff members who survived the ordeal told PTI.
Four security personnel including a woman constable and the civilian were killed on the spot while six others died in the hospital.
Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike, also mother of President Chandrika Kumaratunga who herself survived an assassination bid on December 18, has been ailing for some time and stopped attending office for the past three years and has been functioning from her residence.
Police sources later said that the suicide bomber was perhaps waiting for the arrival of the Deputy Defence Minister Gen Anirudha Ratwatte, who was scheduled to visit the place. There was however no official confirmation so far on the incident.
DIG of the range Jayalath Jayawardene, who was at the spot, said that in all six people, including four from the PSD and a passerby were killed in the explosion which took place around 9 am IST.
This was the third explosion to rock Colombo since December 18. Thirty-four people were killed and scores of others including President Chandrika Kumaratunga were injured in two LTTE suicide bomb attacks in election rallies of the ruling People Alliance and the opposition United National Party (UNP).
