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Explosions, gunfire rock Colombo suburb [10 Mar 2000] Fourteen people were killed and at least 46 injured, four critically, after a huge explosion shook the Colombo suburb of Borella early this evening, followed by a pitched battle in the streets between Sri Lankan security forces and a band of LTTE terrorists, sources said. Three policemen were killed instantly when a suicide bomber detonated explosives strapped to his body at the Ceremonial Drive that lead to the parliament. Shortly afterwards, an estimated twelve gunmen opened fire with light machine guns, and attempted to leave the area while firing indiscriminately at vehicles stuck in the usual heavy Friday night traffic. Hospital sources said most of those killed died of gunshot wounds sustained during the gunmen's shooting spree, sources said. Police later cordoned off the area around the Kanatta General Cemetery, and security personnel pursued armed terrorists into the cemetery grounds. Police said the blast happened at a time when politicians were believed to be passing through on their way home from a parliamentary debate to extend the country's state of emergency, declared as a result of the on-going war with the LTTE terorrists. Witnesses said several smaller explosions followed the first, and Borella residents said heavy gunfire could still be heard throughout the area. The explosion happened near Ceremonial Drive, a main thoroughfare leading directly to parliament about eight kilometres (five miles) away. The force of the explosion shattered windows in houses several miles from Borella.
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