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Gunaratne's wife succumbs to injuries, 60 arrested

At least 60 people from various parts of Colombo have been arrested in connection with the killing of Sri Lankan industry minister C V Gunaratne and 22 others by a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam suicide bomber Wednesday. The government also extended the nationwide emergency for one more month.

Shyama Gunaratne, wife of the assassinated minister, succumbed to her injuries Thursday. She was seriously injured in the blast and was operated upon for internal injuries, hospital sources said.

Police said Thursday that the suspected suicide bomber, a 35-year-old male, walked up to the minister, who was leading a peace rally collecting funds for the welfare of soldiers, and detonated an explosive.

Sources said the minister disregarded the police suggestion not to proceed on foot and freely mingled with the crowd.

Meanwhile, forensic experts started investigating the remains of the dismembered body of the suicide bomber. It is believed that the bomber was carrying 1.5 kg of RDX.

Police did not give much credence to the theory that four accomplices must have dropped the suicide bomber near the venue. They said that the bomber must have been waiting for some time before he got an opportunity to strike.

Earlier, police had arrested four people and seized the van in which they were travelling, in connection with the suicide bombing.

The government on Thursday extended for one more month the nationwide emergency clamped two years ago. Emergency was clamped in the whole island in June, 1998. It has been extended every month since then.

UNI

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