Update: Sri Lanka's Champion Marathon Runner Among Those Killed With Highway Minister In Suicide Bomb Attack

April 6, 2008 7:38 a.m. EST

Colombo, Sri Lanka (AHN) - The nation's champion marathon runner was among those killed in the suicide bomb assassination of a senior Sri Lankan highway minister by a suspected Tamil Tiger rebel on Sunday. That same attack killed 11 others and injured 90 more police officials said.

According to reports, police said Highways and Road Development Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle was assassinated while conducting the opening of the marathon race in Weliveriya town, north of the capital, Colombo, around 7:30 a.m. local time.

Authorities said they suspected that the suicide bomber was among the marathon runner pretending to be a contestant.

According to reports by a local news agency, Daily Merrior, on its Web site, the blast also killed the country's champion marathon runner K.A. Karunaratne. He represented Sri Lanka in 1992 at Barcelona, Spain's Olympics.Sri Lanka's national athletic coach Lakshaman De Alwisis was also among those killed in the explosion.