LTTE deliberately targetted civilian bus - Yapa

Rasika Somarathna

COLOMBO: The Government strongly condemned the Claymore attack that killed more than sixty civilians in Kebithigollewa yesterday. Cabinet spokesman and Media Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa urged people to remain calm and support the Government's endeavour to eradicate the menace of terrorism.

Addressing the media the Minister said that the Government was aware that the aim of the terrorists was to instigate a backlash in order to fulfil their evil designs."The Government appeals to all civilized people and the international community to take cognizance of such evil designs of terrorists and extend all the assistance and cooperation to the Government at this crucial juncture. The President and the Government express its profound sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims of the brutal attack", the Minister said.

"This barbaric and brutal attack definitely carries the message and hallmark of LTTE terrorism and there is no iota of doubt about who is responsible", Defence Affairs spokesman Keheliya Rambukwelle said. He further added that "This cannot be a mistake because the forces don't use this road. The Bus carrying the civilians is the only one which plies this road transporting passengers to Kebithigollawa and definitely the target was civilians to scare them off from the area", he said.

Calling this as a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement Rambukwelle stressed that the Govt. had taken all steps to educate the international community and the Co-Chairs with all the organisations related to the peace process. "There is no declaration of War, the peace agreement is on, but, we have to look at it very seriously" he said, adding that the Government would not hesitate to take military action if needed, to safeguard the civilians.

The North Central Province Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake called the people of the province to be calm and vigilant. He said that all necessary steps had been taken to strengthen the security." Although there had been a road clearing patrol they had inspected the road around 5.45 a.m. and the claymores had been placed after that" the Chief Minister said. Placing the death toll at 61 Minister said that the Govt. had taken steps to air lift the critically injured to Colombo.

The Chief Minister further added that the Govt. had made necessary arrangements to take care of the affected families. The Minister called on all who believe in civilized conduct to come forward and assist the Govt. to eradicate the menace of terrorism.