No Sri Lankans caught in Islamabad bomb blast [September 20 2008]

No Sri Lankans were caught in last night's bomb explosion in Islamabad, Sri Lanka High Commission sources said today. The death count has now gone up to 43 after a suicide bomber detonated a dump truck packed with a ton of explosives outside the Marriott in Pakistan's capital Saturday, setting off a fiery blast that shattered the luxury hotel. More than 100 people were injured.

The targeting of the American hotel chain was one of the largest terrorist attacks ever in Pakistan and came at a time of growing anger in Pakistan over a wave of cross-border strikes on militant bases by U.S. forces in Afghanistan. At least one American was killed and several were wounded.