LTTE targets Pakistan HC

Ranil Wijayapala, Manjula Fernando and Rajmi Manatunga

KOLLUPITIYA: The LTTE yesterday narrowly missed assassinating the outgoing Pakistan High Commissioner Bashir Wali Mohmand as Pakistan nationals celebrated Pakistan Day, but succeeded in killing his security staff when his convoy came under a bomb attack while it was proceeding towards Kollupitiya on the Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha.

LTTE cadres detonated a claymore mine fixed on a three wheeler parked at a wayside of Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha, Kollupitiya using a remote control device.

Seven people including four Security Forces personnel in the Ambassador's escort vehicle were killed and nine others injured in the blast around 1.05 p.m.

Mohmand escaped unhurt but his vehicle was slightly damaged, military personnel at the scene said. The Pakistan Foreign Ministry also announced that their top diplomat in Colombo escaped unhurt in a bomb explosion targeting his convoy. The three wheeler in which the bomb was fixed was a mangled wreck while 11 other vehicles were damaged in the bomb blast. Nearby buildings too were damaged in the huge explosion which was heard several miles away.

The Ambassador was proceeding towards Kollupitiya when his convoy was targeted by the LTTE at Ananda Coomaraswamy Mawatha.

According to eye witnesses, the escort vehicle caught in the blast had rammed into a parapet wall killing three elite commandoes and one signalman. One commando escaped with injuries and was admitted to the Colombo National Hospital. According to military sources the victims were Commandos Corporal J. S. Kumara, Private Aruna Chinthaka, Lance Corporal Premajayantha and Signalman Sisira Jayananda. Commando Private Sisira Bandara was injured.

Eye witnesses said there had been a traffic congestion close to the Liberty roundabout caused by the block in a section of Galle road from Kollupitiya junction to Galle Face roundabout at the time of the blast. The road was closed as four new Ambassadors were presenting their credentials to the President at Temple Trees.

W. M. Priyantha, a resident from Kadawatha said he heard a huge bang from the direction of Coomaraswamy Mawatha as his bus got caught in the Traffic block near Liberty roundabout.

"I heard a huge blast from the Dharamapala Mawatha side and saw fire after getting out of the bus. I took four Security Forces personnel out of the Defender that had rammed into parapet wall," Priyantha said. The defender finally rested nearly 30 metres away from the place where the bomb was fixed in the three wheeler.

"The Tigers' desperate bid to target the Pakistan High Commissioner is a clear indication that it is upset following the Pakistan Government's offer of military aid and other assistance to counter Tiger terrorism as well as to divert attention from the reversals suffered by the Tigers in the North," the Media Centre for National Security said.

The Pakistan High Commissioner was the only foreign envoy provided with Security by the Government due to security threats, Defence officials said. Director CID Asoka Wijetillaka said the CID had taken over the investigations

Meanwhile, a total of 16 were rushed to the National Hospital accident service after the explosion. Of them 10 are now in 72 and 73 wards and receiving in house treatment.

Accident Service Director Dr. Anil Jasinghe said an employee of the Ceylon Gem Corporation, Sarath Dayananda who was rushed with critical injuries to his bowels under went surgery and another army soldier Nirosh Bandara was in the Neurosurgical ICU.

"Among the critically injured are a nine year old boy from Panchikawatte. He was brought with severe head injuries and is now under close medical observation," Dr. Jasinghe said.

The hospital authorities yesterday released the names of the civilians warded at the hospital. They are Sarath Dayananda of the State Gem Corporation, P. Madduma (ward 72), K. A. Arunasiri (ward 72), Dishon, 9, (ward 73), H. G. Manjula, 34 , ward 73, and Nimal Karunaratne of Thalahena. The civilians killed in the incident are Ranjani Hewamanne of Kotte, Padman Maga Abeydheera an engineer from Battaramulla and a 25 year old whose identity is yet unknown.

The wife of the engineer, an employee of the State Pharmaceutical Corporation rushed to the hospital after hearing that her husband was among the victims of the bomb, over the radio.

Tears rolling from her eyes, the Daily News witnessed her leaning on a chair outside the Accident Service Reception, consoled by two colleagues.