LTTE's true face has surfaced again - Yapa

Bomb attacks in Narahenpita and Nugegoda:

Rasika Somarathna

The true face of the LTTE has surfaced once again with the twin bomb attacks in Nugegoda and Narahenpita clearly targeting innocent civilians, Media and Information Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said yesterday.

Speaking at the media briefing to announce Cabinet decisions in Parliament, the Minister noted that the LTTE was resorting to these barbaric acts due to their frustrations at the military front. "Even in the assassination bid on Minister Douglas Devananda, the LTTE had chosen his public day with utter disregard for civilian life, and in the Nugegoda incident the intended target was clearly civilians as they chose one of the busiest junctions in the suburbs during the rush hour," Yapa said.

While offering condolences to families of the deceased and speedy recovery to the injured on behalf of the Government, the Minister said compensation would be provided to the bereaved families.

He added that the Government was aware of the security threat on civilians not only in the city but also throughout the country and was doing its utmost to protect them.

The Government's stance on defeating terrorism and finding a peaceful solution to the national question based on APRC proposals has not changed in the face of the latest attacks, the Minister said and added that the peace bid should be carefully evaluated with all parties' views being given consideration.