At least 21 people, including seven women, were killed and 47 injured today when a powerful bomb ripped through a packed bus near the Sri Lankan capital.

The explosion occurred at 7.35am in Moratuwa, 12 km from Colombo, a military spokesman said and blamed the LTTE for the attack.

Twenty-one passengers were killed in the explosion. Seven of the dead were women," he said.

The roadside bomb was placed between Shailabimbaramya Buddhist temple and the University of Moratuwa and destroyed
the public transport bus, defence sources said. 

 The bus was travelling from Kottawa to Mount Lavinia, about 5 kms from Colombo. Meanwhile, hospital sources said out of the 21 people killed, eight were women.

 It said the the injured have been rushed to the nearby Teaching Hospital and Base Hospital.

A few victims who suffered severe injuries have been transferred to the National hospital  at Colombo.