Second Explosion Rocks Sri Lankan Capital
By VOA News
28 November 2007
An explosion on the outskirts of Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo, has killed at least 16 people and wounded at least 20 others - just hours after a suicide bomber targeted the office of a government minister.
Military officials say the latest blast occurred Wednesday, outside a popular clothing store in the residential area of Nugegoda.
Earlier in the day, a female suicide bomber blew herself up outside the office of the social welfare minister Douglas Devananda in Colombo, killing at least one person and wounding two others.
The minister was unhurt. Police suspect the bomber was a Tamil Tiger rebel.
Tuesday, the Sri Lankan air force destroyed the rebels' radio station in the north. The raid took place just before it was to broadcast an annual Hero's Day speech by rebel leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran.
Prabhakaran, who went ahead with the speech from a jungle hideout, ruled out any political settlement with the Sinhalese government.
Tamil Tiger rebels have been fighting since 1983 to create a separate homeland for ethnic minority Tamils, claiming discrimination from the Sinhalese majority.
Some 70,000 people have been killed and fighting continues despite a 2002 cease-fire.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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