Around 62 persons including Sri Lankan policemen, civilians and reportedly four Chinese nationals have been killed in a massive explosion that rocked the Karadiyanaru area, situated 20 km northwest of Batticaloa city, Friday around 12:30 p.m. Containers with explosives parked close the police station exploded destroying the entire police station, initial reports said. The explosion also affected the nearby hospital. There were at least three containers with dynamites intended for road construction which was operated by Chinese workers, the reports further said. Around 100 persons, including engineers from the South, wounded in the blast were being rushed to hospital. STF personnel and Ex LTTE members deployed in the construction work under Colombo's publicized rehabilitation programme were likely among the victims, a local NGO official told reporters in Colombo.
Sri Lankan Police officials ruled out the possibility of sabotage and maintained that it was a tragic accident. Meanwhile, officials at the hospital have been instructed to remain tight-lipped on casualty details.
Sri Lankan Special Task Force (STF) personnel and police have been rushed to the area.
The Karadiyaana'ru police station was completely destroyed as well as several other buildings in the area.
The injured were being admitted to the Batticoloa Government hospital and they were being treated for burn injuries, police and hospital officials said.
The explosives-laden containers were part of the Eastern Province development programme.
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