Two bombs exploded Friday at a campaign rally of the main opposition leader. Police said Sirimavo Bandaranaike was unhurt, but three of her supporters were critically injured.

Elsewhere, 19 people were killed in attacks blamed on a Sinhalese extremist group and a shadowy new organization that opposes it, the military said.The government began flying officials to Jaffna, a northern Tamil city, to supervise Monday's presidential contest on this island nation south of India.

Extremists from the Sinhalese majority, fighting government concessions to the minority Tamil, have vowed to block the election.

View Comments

The bombs exploded 200 yards from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party's leader, who had just given a a speech, said a police officer who demanded anonymity.

Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.