8.1.2008

According to latest information, death toll of the LTTE claymore bomb explosion at Ja-Ela this morning has risen to two as the personal body guard of the slain minister succumbed to injuries short while ago.

Earlier, Non-cabinet Nation Building Minister, D.M Dassanayake, who received severe injuries succumbed to wounds around 12.25 p.m while being treated at the Intensive Care Unit at Ragama teaching hospital, sources said.

Two of the five victims who were in critical condition have already been transferred to the national Hospital Colombo and A total of twelve including five civilians injured due to this explosion, hospital sources said.

A claymore bomb has been triggered off targeting a VIP motorcade carrying a non-cabinet minister of Nation Building, D.M Dassanayake, at Ja-Ela around 10.35 this morning, January 08. The motorcade was plying towards Colombo along the Negombo - Colombo (A-3) main road when the explosion occurred near the Rukmani Devi junction, defence sources said.