Japanese envoy to visit Sri Lanka in bid to ease tensions

An explosion killed two neighbourhood guards today as officials announced a visit by a Japanese peace envoy aimed at easing tensions that have pushed Sri Lanka to the brink of civil war.

The blast in the northern garrison town of Vavuniya also wounded two other guards when the group of four were returning home on bicycles after night duty, said the area’s senior police officer Jagath Abeysirigunawardena.