Suicide Bomber Kills 22, Injures 40 in Sri Lanka

A suicide bomber, identified by police as an Indian Tamil, set off a cartload of explosives Monday that killed 22 people and wounded more than 40 in Colombo.

The blast, triggered across from the capital’s landmark Independence Memorial Hall, was widely seen as the answer of Tamil Tiger separatists to Sri Lanka’s plans for power-sharing.

No one immediately claimed responsibility. But police said the bomber was a member of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam separatist group.

“We have identified the suicide bomber,” said G. B. Kotakadeniya, the deputy inspector general of police in charge of Colombo. He added that one of the bomber’s “close associates” was arrested but declined to give any names.

Kotakadeniya said the suspect was a member of the Indian Tamil community who work on tea estates in the central hills.

Military police reported seeing the suspected bomber pushing a handcart full of coconuts outside the state-run radio and television network. Moments later, the bomb went off at the adjacent office building of the chief regional minister for the Colombo area.

Susil Premajayantha, the minister, was in his office and unhurt.

On Mondays, the chief minister opens his door to the public without appointment. Most of those killed were waiting to see him.

On Thursday, President Chandrika Kumaratunga proposed giving greater autonomy to regions in the north and east where the Tamils have been seeking a homeland for 12 years. But under the plan, the rebels would have to contest elections if they want to govern the area, much of which they already control.

On Friday, the Ellalan Force, an extremist Tamil group believed to have links with Tamil Tiger rebels, had threatened to explode bombs in Colombo to protest alleged atrocities by the Sri Lankan military.