SRI LANKAN PRESIDENT KUMARATUNGA ADDRESSES A MEETING SHORTLY BEFORE A BOMB BLAST, 1999-12-18 (photo)

Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga addresses a presidential campaign meeting in Colombo December 18, minutes before a suicide bomber exploded a bomb. A woman suicide bomber slightly wounded Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga and killed at least 15 people at an election rally in central Colombo on Saturday, just days before the presidential poll in which she is seeking re-election, officials said. Police and witnesses said the woman suicide bomber had tried to jump a barrier to get close to Kumaratunga while the president was walking towards her car after finishing a speech at a meeting of her ruling People's Alliance on the last day of campaigning before Tuesday's vote. DNC/JDP