The death toll in today's brutal suicide attack has risen up to 27 and the number of injured persons is now reported to be over 90. The victims include Janaka Perera, Leader of the Opposition, North Central Provincial Council, his wife as well as Dr. Johnpulle and his wife.

 

Media Center for National Security announced that LTTE is responsible for the attack.
 
The suicide blast targeting Maj. Gen. Janaka Perera and the members occurred inside the United National Party (UNP) office near the Old Bus Stand in Anuradhapura this morning (06). The bomb blast occurred around 8.45 am during a function held to declare open the new UNP office in Anuradhapura, sources said.

Major General Janaka Perera (Retd), was a politician and also served as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army (2000-2001). After retiring from the army he served as a Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Australia and as the Ambassador to Indonesia.

He was the opposition leader of the North Central Provincial Council at the time of his death.

He was educated at St. Joseph's College, Colombo and joined the Sri Lanka Army in 1966 as an Officer Cadet. He received his training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in England and completed the training. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Ceylon Engineers. Maj. Gen Perera is a graduate of the Royal College of Defence Studies.