8 killed in bomb explosion in poll-bound eastern Sri Lanka

Fri, May 9 08:28 PM

Colombo, May 9 (PTI) A powerful bomb explosion today killed at least eight people in eastern Sri Lanka's Ampara district ahead of tomorrow's key provincial council elections. "Suspected Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) militants have exploded a bomb inside the New City Cafe in Ampara town around 5.

45 p.M today, a Defence Ministry statement said.

The initial report received from the area said that eight civilians were killed due to the explosion and the victims who received injuries were rushed to the Ampara hospital, it said. "This is another cowardly attempt of the LTTE to disrupt the normalcy in the area as the government is scheduled to hold the provincial council elections to establish democracy in the eastern province, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, security has been further beefed up in the area ahead of the polls that could pave the way for the government to introduce democracy in areas liberated from LTTE's control. The Sri Lankan Election Commissioner said all preparations were complete to hold the election to the Eastern Provincial Council to elect 37 members.

The voting in 1,070 polling stations in Ampara, Trincomalee, Batticaloa districts will commence from 7 a.M and end at 4 pm.

Fully liberated from the LTTE last year, this will be the first time in 20 years that elections will be held in the Eastern province. The government has hailed the provincial polls as a milestone in its campaign to end the nation's decades-long civil war.

The Sri Lankan government, which is looking to successful hold these elections as a psychological victory over the LTTE and showcase communal harmony in the embattled areas, has stepped up security in the region in the run up to the polls. PTI.

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