Gotabaya Rajapakse, the Sri Lankan Secretary of Defence and brother of SL President Mahinda Rajapakse, narrowly escaped a bomb blast in Colombo Friday morning. Fourteen including Gotabaya Rajapakse's security commandos, were injured in the attack, suspected to be a suicide mission, Police said. Lt. Col. (retd.) Gotabaya Rajapakse, who advocates a military solution to the Tamil national problem, was on his way to a defence meeting with Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse.

Gotabaya Rajapakse survived a suicide attack when he was enroute to a defence meeting with Mr. Mahinda Rajapakse.   The attack took place at Pithala Junction in Dharmapala Mawatha in Kolpitty around 10:30 a.m.

The suicide killer had come in a three wheeler, military sources said.

7 vehicles were damaged in the explosion.

Lt. Col Gotabaya Rajapaksa is a retired army officer who had served under the incumbent Sri Lanka Army Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka when Fonseka served as a Colonel.

Upon retirement, he expatriated to USA and appointed Defence Secretary by Mahinda Rajapakse when Mr. Mahinda was elected Sri Lankan President last November.

Sri Lanka Army Commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka survived a suicide attack on April 25.