Sri Lankan president calls for restraint

Security has been stepped up in the capital

President Kumaratunga of Sri Lanka has appealed for restraint in the wake of Wednesday's suicide bomb attack which killed a senior government minister and 21 other people.

In a statement, she said Tamil Tiger rebels were trying "to inflame communal passions by provoking the people in the south."

I appeal to all Sri Lankans to consider this earnestly and act with patience to maintain peace at this hour

President Kumaratunga

Reports said there was sporadic violence in the Ratmalana area of Colombo where the bomb went off.

However, the authorities said they moved to calm tensions in the area to prevent a backlash against the minority Tamil community.

"I appeal to all Sri Lankans to consider this earnestly and act with patience to maintain peace at this hour," President Kumaratunga said.

The state media said on Thursday that anyone trying to provoke a backlash against Tamils would be severely punished.

Security measures

Security has been stepped up in and around the capital, with soldiers guarding key junctions.

Mr Gooneratne was killed instantly

Police have asked all ministers to stay away from public gatherings to prevent any further attacks

Navy gunboats are reported to have been deployed to prevent a possible attack from the sea.

Police are continuing to question four men detained after the attack.

Condemnation

The attack has been widely condemned both within Sri Lanka and by the international community.

A White House spokesman, Joe Lockhart, described the bombing as a "reprehensible act," but said efforts to resolve the conflict in Sri Lanka should continue.

British Foreign Office Minister Peter Hain described the bombing as "an atrocious act".

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan called it "senseless".

The attack coincided with the country's first 'War Heroes' Day', aimed at boosting the morale of troops battling the Tamil Tigers in the northern Jaffna peninsula.

The blast killed CV Gooneratne, Sri Lanka's industry minister, while he was collecting donations for the army in his constituency.

Dozens of people were injured - including the minister's wife.

It is the latest in a long line of political assassinations blamed on the Tigers, who are fighting for a separate state in the north and east of Sri Lanka.