Dozens injured as bomb explodes in busy Colombo area

Colombo: At least 45 people were injured after a bomb exploded in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo's commercial area on Saturday, officials said.

The number of people injured was earlier put at 35. Children and women were among those injured and rushed to hospital.

"It was a bomb placed close to an apple vendor in Pettah," said military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said.

The military blamed the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil EelamTamil Tiger (LTTE) rebels for the blast.

"This was definitely the LTTE. They are desperate and taking civilian targets since they are being defeated on the northern battlefront," Nanayakkara said.

The rebels could not be reached for comment.