A powerful mine exploded just missing a police patrol yesterday after Japan offered to host talks between Sri Lanka and Tamil Tiger rebels to save their tottering truce, officials said.
The explosion caused by a claymore mine targeted the patrol in the northern district of Vavuniya, a military spokesman said.
"The policemen were returning after a routine route-clearing patrol when they were ambushed," a military official here said.
"They had a narrow shave. There were no casualties," he said.
There was a similar explosion aimed at a bus transporting 60 constables in the east of the island late on Sunday, the military said, adding that the blast also narrowly missed the police.
The attacks came as Japan's peace envoy to Sri Lanka, Yasushi Akashi, ended a five-day visit to the island and offered to host negotiations between the Colombo government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
"Japan would be delighted if the parties agree to Japan to have the talks," Akashi said just before he left the island late on Sunday.
The Tigers have wanted talks to be held either in territory held by them or at an overseas venue, but the government had insisted that negotiations should be in Sri Lanka.
RSS