''The LTTE suicide cadre had come out and exploded himself when a police team on search operation tried to enter the house they were hiding,'' Military Spokesman Brig Udaya Nanayakkara said.

''Three police personnel, including a woman Sub-Inspector and four Tamil civilians, including two women were wounded in the suicide blast,'' Brig Nanayakkara told UNI over the phone, adding that, ''The wounded people have been rushed to the Colombo National Hospital.'' ''The police have recovered a 9mm pistol with ammunitions during the subsequent search operation from the house,'' Brig Nanayakkara informed.

Further investigations were underway.

The latest explosion has taken place amid tight security in and around the Lankan capital put in place in view of fears of rebel attacks.