Two people die in Wellawatte blast

Security forces inspecting the scene of the blast

Two people were killed and 10 wounded when unidentified men flung a grenade at a bus stand in Wellawatte last night, Police said. The incident occurred near Rajasingha Mawatha where Batticaloa-bound buses collect passengers. Some of the injured were passengers waiting to board the Batticaloa bus.

Military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara told The Sunday Times that police were carrying out investigations and it was too early to say who was responsible for the attack.

“We cannot say whether it was the LTTE or an underworld group. The case is under investigation,” the brigadier said. S. Varatharaja, 41, who was injured in the incident, told The Sunday Times at the Kalubowila hospital that two persons arrived on a motorcycle and the pillion rider threw the grenade at the bus halt before they sped away.

Sivalogani Wickremararjan who, along with her husband and child, was waiting to board the Batticaloa bus said about 20 people were at the bus halt when the incident occurred. She said she and her child escaped but her husband was wounded. Security forces personnel who arrived at the scene cordoned off the area and carried out a search operation, but no persons had been arrested, police said.

The incident came hours after an explosion damaged an electricity board cabin at Colombo’s Grandpass area. No one was injured in the blast that took place around 7.30 p.m, police said. Meanwhile, a businessman identified as Seillaha Selvararja was shot dead inside the communication centre he ran at Horana, police said.