Nine Sri Lankan soldiers and a civilian have been killed after their truck ran over a land mine thought to have been planted by Tamil Tiger rebels.

Military officials say the troops were returning from a raid on a suspected Tigers hideout near the northern town of Vavuniya when the explosion took place.

Officials say the soldiers had found explosives and other materials used by suicide bombers.

The Sri Lankan authorities believe several bombers are now in the Colombo area.

Fifty people have been killed in suicide bomb attacks in Sri Lanka in recent weeks, including a failed attempt last month to assassinate President Chandrika Kumaratunga.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service