NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTION 99
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

How the LTTE bomber did his deed

The Liberation Tiger of Tamil Eelam suicide bomber, who blew himself up in the suburbs of Colombo yesterday killing Sri Lankan Industrial Development Minister C V Gunaratne and 22 others, had come up to the minister with a sheaf of betel leaves, local media reported.

Quoting a senior police officer at the site, reports said the bomber waited for some time in front of a temple then crossed the road and remained at a three-wheeler parking area.

''When the peace march arrived at the junction, the bomber came up to the minister with a sheaf of betel leaves as if giving it to him and blew himself up,'' the officer said.

''I warned the minister not to walk on the road 20 minutes before the explosion, but he did not listen,'' said the senior police officer.

Gunaratne had joined the procession after returning from a ceremony that marked war heroes day at the presidential secretariat presided over by President Chandrika Kumaratunga.

His wife, Shyama, who was injured in the blast, is in a critical condition at the ICU of Kalubowila Hospital. Hospital sources said she had sustained heavy internal injuries and was operated upon.

Meanwhile, four people, suspected to be the bomber's accomplices, have been taken into custody. A van has also been recovered from the spot. Police are investigating whether the van was used for dropping the bomber. Security has been tightened in Colombo and suburbs following yesterday's blast.

UNI

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report