Colombo  - At least 22 people, including an opposition politician and former military officer who had spearheaded military operations against Tamil rebels, was killed in a suicide bomb attack in north central Sri Lanka on Monday morning, police said.

Retired Major General Janaka Perera was taking part in the opening of a political office of his party - the main opposition United National Party (UNP) - in Anuradhapura, 180 kilometres north of the capital.

Perera was the opposition leader of the provincial council in the north central province.

Perera's wife and other party members were among those killed.

Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that the attack was carried out by a rebel suicide bomber. (dpa)