There has been a sharp increase in violence in Trincomalee (Photo: Dharmatasa Kantale)
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At least 14 people have been killed in a bomb attack and subsequent unrest in north-eastern Sri Lanka, police say.
More than 40 others were injured in the blast in a Trincomalee market which brought mobs onto the streets. Shops and cars were torched before a curfew.
Earlier, two policemen were killed and two hurt in a blast near the port town.
Four blasts blamed on Tamil rebels, who deny involvement, have claimed more than 30 lives since Monday. Talks on saving a truce are due next week.
'Chaos'
The explosion ripped through the crowded vegetable market in Trincomalee.
Two of those killed were members of the security forces, Deputy Inspector General of Police Rohan Abeywardhana told the BBC.
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 I could see that the dead and injured included young children and women
Lahiru Hettige
Eyewitness
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An eyewitness, Saman Mallawaarachchi, says he saw several bodies scattered on the road.
Fish wholesaler, Lahiru Hettige, was at a nearby fish market when the bomb exploded.
"We immediately ran outside and there were scenes of chaos in the vegetable market," he told the BBC News website.
"I could see that the dead and injured included young children and women."
A curfew was swiftly imposed in Trincomalee to restore order after crowds set fire to shops and cars.
It is still not clear how many people died in the blast, and how many were killed in the rioting which followed.
The army blamed the rebels for what it called a "heinous crime". There was no immediate response from the Tamil Tigers.
Ceasefire monitors say the situation is close to getting out of hand.
"There is a real danger that the violence that erupted today could spread throughout the country, resulting in more innocent people dying, if the two parties do not act quickly to bring the situation under control," the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission said in a statement.
Rebels accused
Officials say the first attack on Wednesday took place as the policemen were travelling in a vehicle just outside Trincomalee.
"It was a claymore [anti-personnel mine] attack," Senior Superintendent of police Nihal Samarakoon told Reuters news agency.
"Two were killed and two were injured. It was the LTTE [Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]," he added.
On Tuesday, 10 sailors and their driver were killed after a navy bus hit a mine near Trincomalee, officials said.
Another nine sailors were hurt in the blast, six of them critically. Two British women in a passing vehicle were also hurt.
A day earlier, five Sri Lankan soldiers and two civilians were killed in a mine attack near Jaffna.
The government says it will go ahead with peace talks planned to be held in Switzerland next week.
"The government will not be sidetracked into jettisoning the current peace process by mere provocative acts by the LTTE," the state-run Daily News quoted a government official, Palitha Kohana, as saying.
A surge in attacks at the turn of the year abated after agreement was secured to hold talks in February, but violence has risen again in recent weeks.
The Tamil Tigers want autonomy for minority Tamils in the north and east of Sri Lanka. More than 60,000 people have died during two decades of conflict.
Are you, or do you know anyone, affected by the blasts? Send us your comments and experiences.
My brother was in Trinco as a part of ICRC. He told me that blast happened in the market. After that angry mob start to burn the shops belonging to minority Tamils. Also it seems some people were attacked badly by mobs. In Colombo every thing seems normal.
Steve John, Colombo
Here we go again! Both the LTTE and SL government must be blamed to the current situation. I wish it all would stop! Well, those parties (once in red) who were harping on the war will be so happy. Its so stressful working in this country cause every thing is a struggle and every thing is governed by uncertainty.
Sarath, Colombo
I have lost my brother and friends.I think government should take immediate action to prevent this ruthless, barbarian terrorist attacks. The LTTE is solely responsible for this attack. They even don't care that Tamil people who dead due to this bomb blast.
Sivalingam, Trincomalee, Sri Lanka
Trincomalee District is a multi ethnic city in Sri Lanka which is very similar to Colombo's ethnic mix. Pleople live in style and unity in Colombo and what's going on in Trinco? Is it the rebellion or terrorism you decide and it's time to act on it! May peace prevail in Sri Lanka for its well diserved people (Tamil Sinhala Muslim or who ever every human)!
Damien, London