Sri Lanka blast kills eight and injures dozens

April 25, 2008 (LBO) – A blast near a crowded bus station South of Sri Lanka's capital Colombo has left at least eight dead and more than a 30 injured, police and eyewitnesses said. The explosion went off in the suburb of Piliyandala during the evening rush hour at around 6.45 pm, the defence ministry said.

An LBO reporter at the Colombo south hospital in Kalubowila said eight dead bodies had been brought to the hospital.

Friday's blast is the latest in a series of deadly explosions blamed on Tamil Tiger guerillas targeting civilians in the south of the island.

The blast came as the military said it gained control of an area in the Northwestern Mannar area and the guerillas beat back an offensive in the northern Jaffna peninsular with heavy casualties.

Go to LBO front page to read eyewitness report from driver of ill-fated bus

Updated