Desperate attempt to instigate communal clashes - President

COLOMBO: President Mahinda Rajapaksa condemned yesterday's brutal terrorist attack at Ratmalana which killed seven innocent civilians and injured another 37 including six STF personnel.

In a release issued yesterday, the President said "At a time when the Government Forces are engaged in a humanitarian mission to liberate the Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims from the grip of LTTE terrorism, attacks like these can be termed as desperate attempts to instigate communal clashes."

The President expressed his deep condolences to the families of the victims.