Powerful explosion near Colombo: Lankan military

Cops are still trying to determine the exact site of the blast.

A powerful explosion occurred north of the Sri Lankan capital Colombo early on Friday, military sources said, adding that police were still trying to determine the exact site of the blast.

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The explosion was heard in a coastal area about 15 kms north of Colombo, near the site where police last week arrested five Tamil Tiger rebels in diving gear who were laying sea mines, the sources said.

Police said the sea mines were similar to limpet mines but magnetically attach to a ship's hull and can be triggered to explode by a time-delay fuse or by remote control.

One of the five divers arrested on Saturday had swallowed cyanide and committed suicide to prevent being questioned and another two who took cyanide were taken to hospital.