Bomb explodes at PA rally

[TamilNet, Thursday, 05 October 2000, 13:46 GMT]
At least twelve people, including a police officer were killed and 44 others were wounded in a bomb blast at an election meeting of Sri Lanka's ruling People's Alliance in Medawachchiya town, about 25 km. north-east of Anuradhapura in the North Central province, around 5.45 p.m. Thursday, police said.

The bomb went off when Sri Lanka's Deputy Minister for Health and Indigenous medicine, Tissa Karaliyaddea, was addressing the meeting at the main bus terminal. He escaped unhurt, police sources said.

Police said the explosion was caused by a suspected suicide bomber of the Liberation Tigers.

They said the bomb was detonated by an intruder woman as the police tried to search her when she attempted to enter the venue of the meeting. The police, however, now say the attacker was a male.

The wounded have been admitted to Anuradhapura and Medawachchiya hospitals.