From correspondents in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 11:32 AM IST

At least 21 people were killed in a suicide bomb blast by the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka's north-central town of Anuradhapura, defence officials said.

Maj. Gen (Retired) Janaka Perera, who is a member of the main opposition United National Party (UNP), his wife and another opposition member were among those killed in the blast.

According to officials, the explosion was a suicide attack by the Liberation Tigers of Talim Eelam (LTTE) rebels.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)