Hallmarks of LTTE involvement - US, SLMM
COLOMBO: The attack on Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa
bears all the hallmarks of an operation by the LTTE, the United States
stated yesterday.
"We once again call on the LTTE to renounce terrorism, to give up
violence and to join in negotiating a peaceful solution to Sri Lanka's
conflict," the US Embassy said in a statement.
The US condemned the terrorist attack. "While we are gratified that
Secretary Rajapaksa is safe and well, the United States extends our
sincere condolences to the families of those who were killed and wounded
in this terrible incident."
British Prime Minister Tony Blair had also got in touch with the High
Commissioner in Colombo, expressing condemnation of the attack and his
sympathies for those killed and injured. Peace facilitator Norway also
vehemently condemned the suicide attack on the Defence Secretary.
Royal Norwegian Embassy spokesman Erik Nurnberg told the Daily News
that Norway strongly denounces the attempt on the life of the Defence
Secretary.
"We condemn this attack in the strongest terms. Incidents like this
have kept on happening. We want to make it clear that such attacks are
not going to make it easier to find a solution to Sri Lanka's problem,"
he said.
The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) said it is deeply concerned
over the attack on the Defense Secretary. The SLMM notices that the
blast bares the hallmarks of methods used by the LTTE in the past.
"The recent and escalating violence, including today's attack on a
high-ranking official, threatens seriously the lives of innocent
civilians in Sri Lanka. The SLMM urges the parties to respect the
Ceasefire Agreement and to give up violence." |