The woman suicide bomber who made a futile attempt to assassinate Sri Lankan Minister Doughlas Devananda in Colombo looked unperturbed and relaxed just before blowing herself up, a chilling video of the bombing released in Colombo showed.
The images captured from the Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras installed at the minister's office, showed the young bomber, suspected to be a LTTE cadre, in full control of herself while overcoming the initial security layer. "I was just about 25 to 30 feet from the suicide bomber and I am used to such attempts being made on me," Devanada had told PTI after the futile assassination bid on him.
Clad in a yellow sari and a white shawl, the assassin, 24-year-old Sujatha Vagawanam from Vavuniya, was seen answering questions and approaching the Personal Relations Officer in a small waiting room. She sought an audience with the Social Services and Social Welfare Minister Douglas Devananda.
According to officials, the suicide bomber perhaps chose to hide the detonator and explosives in her inner clothes to escape detection.
The video, released on Friday by police, gave a rare sight of the suicide bomber's last moments and the immediate aftermath of a devastating attack.
The video, released on Friday by police, gave a rare sight of the suicide bomber's last moments and the immediate aftermath of a devastating attack.
Her impetuous decision to explode herself before trying to get inside the Minister's chamber was surprising considering she had put up a calm and brave face for getting closer to the Tamil politician, seen as a rival to the LTTE.