COLOMBO, Aug 30: At least 45 people were injured, some of them critically, when a parcel bomb placed near a shop in Colombo’s main market, exploded on Saturday.

The explosion occurred not far from Colombo’s main bus stand. Police blamed the LTTE for the blast.

The Director of the National Hospital, Dr Hector Weerasinghe, told media that some of the critically injured had undergone an emergency surgery.

On Friday, four members of the pro-government Eelam People’s Democratic Party were among 11 prisoners injured when a grenade exploded in a cell in Batticaloa jail.

Meanwhile, heavy fighting was reported in the Palamoddai area of Wanni. Troops captured an LTTE stronghold there.

In fighting in Palamoddai, Andankulam and Nachchikudah areas, 26 LTTE fighters were killed and 10 were wounded, the ministry of defence said.