Lt Gen Sarath Fonseka is said to be in a stable condition after surgery in Colombo, where the attack happened. He was appointed head of the army shortly after the election of President Mahinda Rajapakse last November and has taken a hard line against the Tamil Tigers.

The military has blamed Tamil Tiger rebels for the attack and launched air strikes on their positions in the east.

Responding to the latest attack, President Rajapakse said he would not be cowed by terrorism.

This is the first suicide bombing in the Sri Lankan capital since July 2004, and the biggest attack blamed on the Tamil Tigers since they signed a truce with the government in 2002.

There has been a surge in violence in Sri Lanka recently, and the Tigers last week pulled out of planned peace talks.

BBC/CNN