It was an attack on the people - Minister Samarasinghe

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

COLOMBO: Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said it was not an attack on the ministerial and diplomatic team per se, but an attack on innocent civilians in Batticaloa.

"But the Government will not waver from its commitment to their welfare," Minister Samarasinghe told the media soon after returning to Colombo. The team of foreign ambassadors together with other officials went to Batticaloa to assist the people living in those areas and ensure a better life for them. Hence this is an attack on 70,000 civilians who live in Batticaloa rather than an attack on the delegates themselves.

"We landed about 8.30 in the morning and got out. At once I heard a big noise. Then I saw soil going up. Obviously it was a mortar attack. The mortars landed very close to the helicopter. Someone told me to get away from the helicopter as soon as possible and pushed me. There were other ambassadors who were just behind me. They followed me to the vehicles parked close by.

As we were rushing to the vehicles another mortar landed about 25 meters away from us," minister said.

"This was a very narrow escape. Unfortunately, there were no serious injuries except to the US ambassador, who got a shrapnel on his shoulder.

The Italian ambassador got a shrapnel on the back of his head and a few others including two office members of the Minister got injuries."

Further the minister said the Government would make the international community aware of this incident.

Newly appointed French Ambassador Michel Lummah speaking to a television channel said it was the first time that he had faced a situation of this nature and he had informed the international community his experience.

He said the LTTE very well knew about their presence as the embassies had informed all local NGOs working in the areas of their arrival.