After blast Colombo beefs up security

(December, 06, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Security has been beefed up as the LTTE are targeting civilians with the latest attack killing 15 bus passengers and injuring 23 others in Abimanapura, government official said today , Thursday.

A passenger bus heading from Anuradhapura hit a claymore mine Wednesday night at Abimanapura, near Kebathigollawa. Most of the passengers were Sinhalese, Sri Lanka's majority community.

The attack, which came a week after LTTE set off a powerful explosion in a crowded junction in Colombo that killed at least 20 civilians and injured 43 others, prompting authorities to step up security on buses and trains.

"We are taking maximum precautions in buses and told the staff to be extra vigilant at bus stations to prevent the LTTE planting any bombs," a Transport Board official said.

However, passengers are afraid that the LTTE may try to carry out more attacks in the south to distract the security forces involved in military operations in the north.