Colombo Bishop condemns LTTE terrorist attack on envoys

COLOMBO: Bishop of Colombo Rt. Rev. Duleep de Chickera in a statement yesterday said the failed LTTE attack on the helicopter carrying Human Rights and Disaster Management, Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe and some ambassadors was utterly senseless and must be condemned for it provocative nature.

“It would have led to very serious diplomatic repercussions had it been fatal, the Colombo Bishop said.The statement: Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe and the Ambassadors were on a humanitarian mission to hear and respond to the hardships the people of the East are facing.

A similar recent visit to Jaffna by the Minister enabled a dialogue with Civil Society Leaders and has begun to bring some relief already. The LTTE could not have been unaware of this mission; and should have welcomed it.

“Such incidents convey a strong message to the country. They absolutely re-affirm the urgency for both the LTTE and the GoSL to rise above the destructive option of death and intimidation and return immediately to negotiations to revolve this issue.

The massive amount of energy and resources that go into destructive strategies can and must be redirected and for the common good.