Colombo railway blast kills eight

At least eight people have been killed and up to 100 hurt in a suicide attack in the main railway station in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo, officials say.

Police said a female suicide bomber blew herself up as a suburban train pulled into a station platform.

The attack comes amid increased security ahead of celebrations on Monday to mark the 60th anniversary of Sri Lanka's independence from Britain.

On Friday, 18 people died in a blast in the central town of Dambulla.

Both attacks have been blamed on Tamil Tiger rebels.

The rebels, who have been fighting for an independent state in the north and east since 1983, have carried out frequent suicide and bomb attacks in the city and other areas.

The civil war has intensified since last month, when the government pulled out of a ceasefire with the rebels.

'Policeman bleeding'

The BBC's Roland Buerk in Colombo says there are large numbers of police in the station and the scene of the blast has been cordoned off.

Eyewitnesses described what happened.

"I was near my counter and I heard a big blast. When I looked behind I saw a policeman bleeding," said ticket inspector Ravindra Pinto.

"As I took him and rushed out, I saw many men and women on the ground," he said.

Colombo station is situated in the heart of the city, near the president's offices and several major hotels.

Our correspondent says people are concerned that there may be more attacks to coincide with the anniversary.

Huge parades have been planned in the city, large parts of which have been closed off.

A bomb attack on the city zoo earlier on Sunday injured four people.

The blast, near an aviary, is thought to have been caused by a grenade.