Zoo Blast

Feb 03, 2008 (LBO) – An explosion inside a zoological garden in a southern suburb of the Sri Lanka capital Colombo has injured four, the military said, a day after a bus bombing killed 20 civilians in the central province of the island. Sri Lanka pulled out of a ceasefire with the Tamil Tigers, who have been fighting for a separate state in the island for nearly three decades in January.

Military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said they were investigating the blast which was believed to have been caused by a hand grenade.

Eyewitnesses said visitors to the zoo were seen fleeing the area.

The bombing comes as the country prepares to celebrate 60 years of independence from British colonial rule on February 04 and the capital is under a tight security blanket.

Police have blamed Tamil Tiger separatists for earlier bombings which have targeted civilians.