SLMM concerned about current situation

Chamikara Weerasinghe

COLOMBO: The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission yesterday said they regret about the current situation in Sri Lanka which diplomats are being killed and targeted with firearms and bombs. The Mission's spokesperson Thornfinnur Omarson said they are concerned about the situation.

He said their monitors had gone to the scene of bomb blast at Dharmapala Mawatha, Kollupitiya, yesterday. "We are presently conducting inquiries into the assassination of Kethesh Loganathan (Deputy Secretary General of Peace Secretariat) and the incident at Kollupitiya," Omarson said.

He categorically condemned the two incidents, and said they were yet to ascertain whether the yesterday's attempt was made on the life of Pakistan High Commissioner in Sri Lanka or not. He declined to comment on the perpetrators behind the two incidents saying, "the SLMM is yet to ascertain the perpetrators. The inquiries are in progress," he said.

Asked if the SLMM had to put the blame on any party over the current upsurge of violence in the country, whom they would blame, Omar said, "All we can say is we have been saying to both the LTTE and the Government that there will be no solution to the conflict if the parties continue with military action."

"We have said there is no military solution to the problem. Ultimately the country will suffer as a result," he said.

Asked the SLMM whether the killing of Loganathan was an act that may be categorised under military means, Omarson said they had already communicated a statement on the killing of Loganathan.

"There are no words strong enough to condemn this vicious cold blooded murder of yet another statesman living for peace."