An accidental explosion in a truck carrying explosives has killed at least 25 people in a police station near the eastern Sri Lankan city of Batticaloa.
Military spokesman Major-General Ubaya Medawela said: '25 people inside the police station have been killed. 16 policemen and nine civilians were among the dead.'
54 people were injured after three containers of dynamite blew up at the Karadiyanaru police station in the eastern district of Batticaloa.
The truck was parked next to the police station in Karadiyanaru, near the eastern port of Batticaloa, when it exploded.
Mr Medawela said the explosives were to be delivered to a quarry.
Earlier, a spokesman for the state-run Media Centre for National Security had said two foreign citizens were among the dead.
He gave no details on their nationality but local media have said that they are Chinese.
