At least eight civilians were killed Friday when a powerful bomb exploded in a tea shop in Sri Lanka's eastern town of Amparai on the eve of provincial council elections, military sources said.

The explosion occurred inside City Cafe in the heart of the town at 5.44 p.m., a military official told IANS over telephone.

The official said that several people were also injured in the blast. The wounded were rushed to the Amparai base hospital.

Sri Lanka's war-ravaged eastern province comprising Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Amparai districts goes to the polls Saturday to elect its maiden provincial council.