Jan 31, Colombo: On January 31, 1996, an LTTE suicide bomber drove a truck laden with 440 pounds of high explosives through the main gate of the Central Bank in downtown Colombo while another two Tigers in a three wheeler opened fire at the security guards.

The blast killed 91 people and injured 1,400 more. Another 100 or so lost their eyesight. The first two floors of the 10-storey Central Bank collapsed and the blast shattered the windows of the Trade Centre that was still under construction.

The bombing was one of the most devastating attacks in Sri Lanka and the deadliest during the decades of civil war between the government and the Tamil Tigers.