At least 10 people, including a government minister, have been killed in an explosion in Sri Lanka, police and officials say.
At least 10 people, including a senior Sri Lankan government minister, have been killed in a bomb blast near the capital Colombo, police have said.
Highways Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle was reported to have died from his injuries after the blast, which officials said was caused by a bomb.
Highways Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle was attending a ceremony to start a marathon race in the western district of Grampaha at the time of the attack.
Police spokesman N Ilangakoon said the blast occurred 20km (12 miles) from the capital Colombo.
The defence ministry blamed Tamil Tigers rebels, who want an independent state for Sri Lanka's Tamil minority.
He said it occurred as the minister was opening a marathon race.
Mr Fernandopulle is the second minister to have been assassinated this year.
The former minister for nation building, DM Dassanayake, was killed in a bombing days after the government pulled out of a ceasefire with the Tamil Tigers.
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