Thursday, June 15 2006 10:27 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Colombo: A suspected mine blast struck a passenger bus in northeastern Sri Lanka today (June 15, 2006) and authorities feared that at least 20 people may have been killed, the area's police chief said.

Deputy Inspector General of Police K Ekanayake said the bus was carrying 40 to 50 people when it was struck by the explosion in Anuradhapura District.

"First reports say that at least 20 people are feared dead," he said when reached by the telephone.

"The blast was apparently caused by anti-personnel mine," he said.

Anuradhapura district adjoins the northeastern districts of Vavuniya and Trincomalee, which are often hit by the continuing violence between the separatist Tamil Tiger rebels and the Sri Lankan military.