Colombo  - One of Sri Lanka's senior cabinet ministers and at least 12 other people were killed in a suicide bomb attack on Sunday morning near the capital, police said.

Minister of Highways and Road Development Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, 55, was killed at Weliweriya, 15 kilometres east of Colombo as he was flagging a cycle race to mark the traditional new year season.

More than 60 people were also injured, including Senior Superintendent of Police Hector Dharmasiri, police said.

Sri Lanka's national athletic coach, Lakshman de Alwis, and former national and South Asian marathon gold medalist KA Karunarathne were also killed, police said.

"We were awaiting for the race to begin and as the minister flagged the commencement of the event the bomb went off," radio journalist Sunil Abeysiriwardena said.

Witnesses said the suspected suicide bomber's head had been recovered close to the blast.

A military spokesman blamed the rebels of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam for the attack.

The minister had been a target of the rebels and was previously warned by the intelligence officials to take precautions.

Fernandopulle, also the chief government whip in the 225-seat parliament, was considered one of the most senior members of the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance in power since 2004. (dpa)