The bus overturned and was sent hurtling down the road for about 25 metres. The local hospital says fifteen children were among those killed. The government blamed the Tamil Tiger rebels and called it a barbaric terrorist act.

It's the worst attack since a ceasefire was signed in 2002. Escalating violence has left hundreds dead since the beginning of the year. A suicide bombing in Colombo in April led to air strikes.

The government says the Tigers are trying to provoke a Sinhalese backlash. Sri Lanka is already in an undeclared war. Now hopes for peace must be even further away.

The Tamil Tigers have denied and condemned the attack.

The ancient holy city of Anuradhapura suffered an attack allegedly by the Tamil Tigers in May 1985 in which About 250 men, women and children were gunned down at the central bus stand at the Anuradhapura town. The Tigers never denied resposibility for the attack.