Colombo Blast: 7 dead, Indian cricket team safe

At least seven persons were killed and eight injured in a powerful explosion near the Sri Lankan President's residence today.

The bomb went off at the Liberty Plaza roundabout, metres away from the official residence of President Mahinda Rajapakse, police and eyewitnesses said.

Pakistan's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Bashir Wali was in the area at the time of the blast but has escaped unhurt, police said.

Military spokesman Athula Jayawardena said the Pakistani diplomat and his family escaped unhurt.

The explosion came as troops maintained full alert in Colombo as fighting between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and government forces continued in the northern Jaffna peninsula.

The blast occured near the hotel where the Indian cricket team is staying for the forthcoming series.

According to reports, the Indian team members are safe in the hotel.