A Sri Lankan general was assassinated in a powerful bomb attack outside the capital, Colombo, on Monday.

Major General Parami Kulatunga was driving along a highway when the bomb, set on a cycle, exploded at Pannipitiya, a suburb of Colombo, during the morning rush hour.

General Kulatunga's car took the full impact of the blast, the police said.

Passengers in some vehicles nearby were also injured in the attack.