Norway condemned on Thursday an earlier attack on civilians in Sri Lanka which claimed 63 lives, and called for an immediate halt of all violence in the country.

"This is a gruesome attack on innocent civilians, including children. We send our deepest condolences to their families and to the wounded," said Minister for International Development Erik Solheim.

"We are witnessing a spiral of worsening violence, which is bringing Sri Lanka towards full civil war. Norway requests an immediate halt of all violence in Sri Lanka," Solheim added.

Sixty-three civilians were killed and 45 others were injured in a bomb explosion which hit a packed passenger bus in Sri Lanka's North Central Province Thursday morning, in the bloodiest attack on civilians since a ceasefire agreement was signed in 2002.

Source: Xinhua