A TOP police commando officer has been killed in a powerful mine explosion in central Sri Lanka, the head of his unit has said, blaming Tamil Tiger rebels for the attack.
Senior Superintendent Upul Seneviratne was being driven to the Special Task Force (STF) training college when his car was hit by the Claymore mine blast at Digana in the district of Kandy, Deputy Inspector General Nimal Lewke said.
He said the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had carried out the attack against Snr Supt Seneviratne, who had earlier served in the embattled eastern province and is now head of the police commando training school.
"The blast went off as he got on the main road to get to his workplace this morning," Insp Gen Lewke said.
"Obviously the Tigers may have been watching him for a while."
Sen Supt Seneviratne died of his injuries after emergency surgery at a hospital in Kandy, 112km east of Colombo.
His driver was in a critical condition.
Police found explosives in Kandy last month.
The latest blast came as government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels were locked in a bitter battle over the control of water in the north-eastern district of Trincomalee since July 26.
Senior Superintendent Upul Seneviratne was being driven to the Special Task Force (STF) training college when his car was hit by the Claymore mine blast at Digana in the district of Kandy, Deputy Inspector General Nimal Lewke said.
He said the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had carried out the attack against Snr Supt Seneviratne, who had earlier served in the embattled eastern province and is now head of the police commando training school.
"The blast went off as he got on the main road to get to his workplace this morning," Insp Gen Lewke said.
"Obviously the Tigers may have been watching him for a while."
Sen Supt Seneviratne died of his injuries after emergency surgery at a hospital in Kandy, 112km east of Colombo.
His driver was in a critical condition.
Police found explosives in Kandy last month.
The latest blast came as government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels were locked in a bitter battle over the control of water in the north-eastern district of Trincomalee since July 26.
