The roadside bomb attack comes as Sri Lanka’s government has officially and formally withdrew from a cease-fire agreement with the rebel group known as the Tamil Tigers. This blast is the latest in a line of attacks in government controlled territory. The attack took place in the remote town of Buttala. This town is located 150 miles southeast of Colombo.
Doctors were immediately flown in from the city to the area via emergency helicopters to treat those wounded in the roadside bomb attack.
While 23 were killed, 67 other people were injured. An armored military vehicle in the same region was hit by a second roadside bomb attack. Three soldiers were slightly wounded.
This attack came in a few hours after the cease-fire agreement officially ended. The agreement broke down after renewed fighting that had lasted for two years.
The Tamil Tigers have been fighting for an independent Tamil state in Sri Lanka.