12 dead, 100 injured in station blast

Ranil WIJAYAPALA

COLOMBO: At least 12 people were killed and 100 injured, 10 of them critically, as an LTTE female suicide cadre blew herself inside the Colombo Fort Railway Station yesterday.

Among the dead were four students from a leading boys school in Colombo.

According to Military and Police officials the female suicide cadre who apparently arrived at the Colombo Fort railway station in a train blew herself opposite the station cafeteria on the third platform at 2.10 p.m.

The head of the suicide cadre was lying on the platform along with a cellular phone connected to a handsfree kit.

The bomb explosion took place a few minutes after traffic restrictions were eased in the heart of Colombo for security arrangements for thousands of Security Forces and Police personnel rehearsing for the Independence Day parade at Galle Face Green, Colombo.

Commuters on the platform and also on board the Rambukkana bound train at the No. 3 platform due to leave Colombo Fort at 2.15 p.m., sustained injuries in the blast. They were admitted to the Colombo national hospital.

A railway officer at a ticketing counter told the Daily News that a large number of injured civilians were evacuated to the Colombo National hospital by three wheelers and private vehicles.

He said the incident occurred 25 minutes after the Vavuniya train left and five minutes after the Galle train left. However, the railway station was not crowded like on other holidays and weekdays due to increased security measures in Colombo.

Colombo National hospital Accident Service Director Dr. Anil Jasinghe said that 100 people were admitted to the Accident Service soon after the incident.

“Ten of the injured were critical and underwent surgery,” Dr. Jasinghe added. Security Forces believe that the suspected suicide cadre would have blown herself inside the station due to intensified security measures in Colombo for the 60th Independence Day celebrations.

“They would have targeted Security Forces personnel who were returning to their bases after rehearsals at the Galle Face Green,” a military official said.

A large number of Air Force troops used the D.R. Wijewardene Mawatha adjoining the Colombo Fort railway station to return to their bases after the rehearsals.

The road was closed to traffic to facilitate the transport of Security Forces personnel after the rehearsals.

According to Security Forces personnel and defence authorities the bomb blasts during the past 48 hours were aimed at crippling the 60th Independence Day Celebrations in Colombo.

The LTTE blasted a bus bomb in Dambulla on Saturday killing 18 civilians, the majority them proceeding to Anuradhapura for a special pooja. Nearly 80 people were injured in the incident.

However, Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara told the Daily News that security measures for the Independence Day celebrations and the Deyata Kirula exhibition have not been hampered due to these incidents.

Train services crippled due to the bomb blast returned to normal hours after the incident, a spokesman for the Trains Control Room told the Daily News. A minor explosion took place near the same platform at Fort on January 11, injuring one person.

Seven injured in zoo explosion

Ranil WIJAYAPALA

DEHIWALA: Seven people sustained injuries in an explosion close to the aviary of the National Zoological Gardens, while thousands of visitors were visiting it yesterday morning.

Two more people including a pregnant mother suffering the effects of shock were also admitted to the Colombo South Teaching hospital, health authorities told the Daily News.

Police and Security Forces at the scene said it was premature to come to a conclusion whether it was a hand grenade or any other explosive device.

Geeth Sanjeewa Sinhabahu who was close to the dustbin where the bomb exploded told the Daily News that the blast took place as he was throwing some litter to the dustbin. He had sustained injuries in his forehead and face following the explosion.

According to the bomb disposal unit of the Police Special Task Force the explosion could have been caused by 300 to 400 grammes of explosives.

Duminda Jayaratne, Director of the Dehiwala Zoological garden told the Daily News that none of the birds inside the zoo was killed due to the explosion.

However, he said though the zoo was closed soon after the incident he was ready to open the zoo after getting security clearance from the relevant authorities.

Visitors to the zoo were evacuated immediately after the incident and a thorough check was made of the entire zoo. Three people have been detained following the incident.