Dynamite store explodes inside police station in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO - A stock of dynamite exploded inside a police station in eastern Sri Lanka Friday, injuring at least seven people, police said, adding that foul play was not suspected.

The explosives were intended for road construction in the area and were being stored at the Karadiyanaru police station, 260 km east of Colombo.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Ravi Wijegunawardena said the explosion was accidental and investigations were under way into what caused the detonation.

The country’s Eastern Province has been calm since government troops recaptured the area from Tamil rebels in 2008. Government troops then went on to defeat the rebels in their northern stronghold in 2009.