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Seven of the injured are said to be in critical condition are at the moment undergoing surgery. According to official sources the number of deaths may be more since several persons are still missing and there is a large number of body parts strewn around the place. However, Police had cordoned off the area and are on the process of looking possible victims. It is believed that the bomb was originally targeted at a Minister who had attended Parliament yesterday. The suicide bomber is believed to be in his thirties. He had been standing in a queue outside the eye hospital with patients awaiting treatment just before the blast. R. K. Nissanka, a fire department official, said a civilian passing by the hospital had tipped the officer off about the man's suspicious movements. Although the blast had not caused any injury to any residential or outdoor patients of the eye hospital, six Hiace vehicles are reported to be seriously damaged. The bomber and a policeman were among the dead. Authorities said a Sri Lankan Cabinet minister, who was to be in the area later in the day, appeared to have been the intended target. The blast comes three weeks before the nation's parliamentary elections October 10. Officials said the death toll could rise. Official authorities said an army vehicle that had been transporting military officials was also damaged in the blast, but the driver was not hurt. "The army vehicle was probably the target of the explosion," said army spokesman Brig. Sanath Karunaratne. Security has been strengthened around the area. Roads connecting to the area of the blast have also been closed. Investigations are still on progress.
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