SRI LANKA: SMALL BLAST IN COLOMBO, NO INJURIES

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000036 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS, DS/IP/SCA, AND DS/ITA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS ASEC CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: SMALL BLAST IN COLOMBO, NO INJURIES REF: A. COLOMBO 0034 ¶B. COLOMBO 0015 ¶1. On January 8, around 7:30 pm, a small bomb exploded in the Colombo Fort area, opposite the government owned publishing house Lake House. No injuries or casualties were reported. The bomb, approximately 75 grams of C-4, according to police contacts, was placed inside a phone booth on the ground floor of a building adjacent to a local theater. Local press reported that Air Force Commander Roshan Goonetileke passed by the blast location several minutes before the explosion. (Note: It is unlikely that such a small amount of explosive would have been used to target a passing vehicle. End Note) ¶2. COMMENT: This blast came just hours after the blast that killed Minister of Nation Building Dassanayake (ref a). The blast did not appear to have a specific target. Nonetheless, it demonstrates the LTTE's ability to operate inside a high security zone, in close proximity to five-star hotels and the Air Force headquarters. BLAKE