The Chinese Embassy to Sri Lanka confirmed the death of two Chinese nationals in a blast and had despatched officials to investigate the accident in the eastern police station of Karadiyanaru, the embassy said on Friday.

A blast rocked the Karadiyanaru police station in the district of Batticaloa killing over 60 people including two Chinese nationals and injuring over 45 people, military officials said.

Two Chinese diplomats would carry out investigations, officials from the Chinese Embassy said.

"The Chinese company indulged in development work in the area had safe kept explosives at the police station. A container carrying the explosives exploded and triggered the explosion of the next two containers," Ubhaya Madawela, the military spokesman said.

The explosion took place at around 11:45 a.m. local time (0615 GMT).

Most of the dead are policemen, the police added.