International community condemns attack

COLOMBO: A number of countries have condemned the LTTE suicide attack which claimed the lives of Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle and several others on Sunday.

The United States Embassy denounced this vicious and reprehensible terrorist attack on civilians in the strongest possible terms. Its perpetrators have achieved nothing other than to cause further suffering among the people of Sri Lanka. Only a political solution, not continued violence, offers the way forward to end the country’s conflict, it said.

The Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner on behalf of the European Commission on Sunday’s terrorist attack in Sri Lanka stated “I am deeply shocked by Sunday’s heinous attack on Minister of Highways and Road Development Jeyaraj Fernandopulle near Colombo.

I strongly condemn this suicide attack, which not only killed Minister Fernandopulle and 14 civilians but also injured many innocent bystanders.

The EU condemns all forms of terrorism and violence against civilians. The EU continues to believe that there can be no military solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka and only a negotiated settlement can open the way for a lasting peace.”

Australia too condemned the suicide attack. “Australia condemns the suicide bombing near Colombo on April 6. The Australian Government sends its most sincere condolences to Mr. Fernandopulle’s family and to the families of all those killed and injured in this terrible attack”.

“Australia remains concerned about the escalation of violence in Sri Lanka and condemns terrorism in all its forms. The use of terrorist methods by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is completely unacceptable”.

“Sri Lanka’s conflict cannot be resolved militarily. It is Australia’s firm view that a political settlement, developed in dialogue with all affected communities, is urgently needed to bring lasting peace to the country. Australia encourages the Sri Lankan Government and all parties involved to redouble their efforts to develop realistic proposals to support a political solution to the conflict”.