Colombo: At least 24 people, including seven women, were killed and several injured today when a powerful bomb planted by suspected Tamil Tigers ripped through a passenger bus near the Sri Lankan capital.
"LTTE militants have carried out a cowardly bomb attack targeting innocent civilians who were returning home after office hours at Pliyandala (about 17 kms south of Colombo) this evening," officials said.
The bomb exploded inside the Ceylon Transport Board bus parked at the Piliyandala bus stand.
The officials said that 24 people including seven women and a monk were killed in the explosion.
The injured were rushed to the nearby Kalubowila hospital.
