By Norman Palihawadana

A policeman officer attached to the Presidential Security Division [PSD] identified as K. Perera was slightly wounded in a bomb explosion in a building several blocks from Janadhipathi Mandiraya (President's House) in Colombo Fort yesterday morning.

Gerard Ignatius, DIG Colombo, yesterday said that the explosion occurred at an abandoned building opposite the Central Bank. "There were no civilian casualties" he said adding that the explosion was triggered when the officer lifted an unidentified object found in the building during a routine security check. The building was badly damaged in January 31, 1996 during LTTE assault on the Central Bank that devastated almost all neighbouring buildings, had not been repaired.

Yesterday’s check was part of the security measures carried out in view of the cabinet meeting.

The Colombo police chief said that they were investigating the blast that occurred in a high security area.

Several offices were evacuated following the blast. Police said that they were unable to blame the LTTE for leaving the explosive device there.

The explosion took place about nine hours after LTTE’s four-month long unilateral suspension of hostilities came to an end midnight on Tuesday.