FLASH : 18 Sri Lankan Troops Killed in Mine Blast in Trincomalee

18 Sri Lankan Soldiers were killed in the restive eastern district of Trincomalee after the bus in which there were being ferried was hit by a Claymore mine.

The army says the Tamil Tiger rebels are behind the blast. The blast happened on the Alla- Kantale Road. One soldier was seriously injured in the blast.

The army has cordoned off the area and is searching for suspects.

The troops are said to be part of reinforcements being rushed to the district for the ongoing ground offensive.

The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission is being informed of the incident.