A second bus bomb in successive days saw at least 15 passengers killed and more than 40 wounded in an explosion inside a bus at Godagama near Hikkaduwa yesterday. However, the government vowed such brutal attacks on civilians would not deter it from counter-terror operations in the north and east.

Worried about increasing crime and violence among Tamils living here, London's Metropolitan Police have urged the large Tamil community to help them crack down on criminal activity.

As national attention was being focused on the second bus bomb blast in Godagama yesterday, 24 people have been detained and statements recorded from 35 with detectives picking up every clue to find the identity of the person who set off a bomb in a crowded bus at Nittambuwa on Friday.

Five soldiers, four civilians killed in series of incidents

Five soldiers and four civilians were killed in sporadic incidents in Vavuinya, Jaffna, Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts yesterday, a military spokesman said.