England plan to continue Test tour

England's 16-man playing squad and support staff left their Colombo hotel on Wednesday morning at 8.30am, less than one hour before the first explosion in the southern suburbs of the city.

"There has been no change in the travel advice we have received from them, at this stage, and it has no effect on the tour arrangements," an England spokesman said. "We always keep the tour itinerary and security arrangements under review and we won't be complacent during the tour."

An elderly disabled woman detonated a device outside the residence of Sri Lanka's welfare minister Douglas Devananda, killing the minister's personal secretary and injuring two security personnel.

A second bomb was set off by remote control at around 6pm local time - approximately eight kilometres from where England had been staying prior to leaving for Kandy - and there were believed to be multiple casualties.

England security advisor Reg Dickason consulted with the British High Commission in Colombo after both incidents.

Officials in Sri Lanka claimed the Tamil Tigers were responsible for the morning blast and confirmed the bomber had died.

The attacks come a day after Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam leader Velupillai Prabhakaran gave his annual 'heroes' speech in which past members of the organisation are remembered.

In his address, Prabhakaran gave little hope of a return to peace, last enjoyed in Sri Lanka between 2002 and 2005.