Colombo: At least nine people have been arrested for suspected links to the deadly explosion in a passenger bus near here yesterday which claimed 26 lives, police said here today.

Police spokesman N K Ilangakoon told reporters here that nine suspects have been arrested in connection with the blast and were being questioned.

He, however, did not give more details.

With the death of two more people today, the toll from the bomb that ripped through a bus at Pliyandala, about 17 kms south of Colombo, rose to 26. Around 62 people were injured in the attack, which Sri Lankan army termed as a "revenge killing" by LTTE.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa deplored the attack on the packed bus, saying the militants had once again resorted to killing innocent civilians in the face of heavy setbacks on the battlefield.

Source : PTI