Explosion in Jaffna town

[TamilNet, Sunday, 12 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
One woman was killed and sixteen civilians were wounded in a grenade blast this evening around 5.20 p.m. (11.20 GMT) in the heart of Jaffna town. The explosion, suspected to be a powerful grenade, went off in front of Sivaganeshan Stores (formerly Malayan Cafe building) on the Power House Road in Jaffna town.

The dead woman has been identified as Balachandran Kamalasini, 44, mother of three children, who was shopping with her family. Her husband, injured and soaked in blood was rushed to the hospital with the other victims.

The condition of two of the wounded civilians are serious said Jaffna hospital sources.

The Jaffna Sri Lankan Security Forces commander Maj.Gen. Lionel Balagalle said this evening that security checks will be stepped up in the Jaffna town and its environs from tomorrow in view of the bomb explosion on Power House road today.

Some well informed sources in the town said that the bomb went off in the area where Muslims who returned to Jaffna have mainly started their businesses.

The return of the Muslims has not been to the liking of some Tamil merchants who find it difficult to compete with them (the Muslims) on the profitable Colombo-Jaffna trade.

Earlier a few hand written anti- Muslim posters had appeared in the Jaffna Town. Jealous Tamil businessmen are believed to be behind them, said sources in Jaffna.

Meanwhile the SLA in Jaffna announced this evening that the curfew it imposes from 9 p.m. to 5.30 a.m. all over the peninsula will be lifted tomorrow for the benefit of the Tamil people who will be celebrating the dawn of their New Year in the early hours of the morning on Tuesday.