Bombing Kills 11 In Sri Lanka Ahead Of Local Polls

Colombo, Sri Lanka (AHN) - At least 11 people were killed and 29 others injured when a bomb exploded in the country's eastern Ampara district on Friday, a day ahead of local elections.

"Suspected Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) militants have exploded a bomb inside the New City Cafe in Ampara town around 5.45 pm (local time) on Friday," the Defense Ministry explained in a statement.

The attack came despite heavy security as residents of Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Ampara prepared to cast their votes on Saturday to elect officials to run the eastern provincial council, the Agence France Press (AFP) reported.

The local polls, which haven't been held in the region for 20 years, come after government troops wrestled the island's east from the LTTE in July 2007.