Five blasts rock Sri Lanka capital, no-one hurt

Jan. 24 (AFP) - Five simultaneous blasts rocked the jittery Sri Lankan capital Colombo Tuesday but caused no casualties, police said.







Jan. 24 (AFP) - Five simultaneous blasts rocked the jittery Sri Lankan capital Colombo Tuesday but caused no casualties, police said. The blasts caused panic in the capital and suburbs, with police and security forces cordoning off the areas, residents said, adding that the explosions were heard in several parts of the capital.

The blasts were in the city's Borella, Nugegoda, Mount Lavinia, Wattala and Kiribathgoda areas, police said, adding that each explosive device probably only contained a few grams of high explosives.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the explosions came amid stepped up security by police and the military and regular search operations for suspected Tamil Tiger rebels.

Police said an investigation was underway to find out who was behind the bombings that came as peace broker Norway and the United States were carrying out a fresh bid to salvage the island's troubled ceasefire.

-Amal Jayasinghe