Lanka condemns serial bomb blasts in Assam

Sri Lanka has denounced the multiple bomb blasts in the Indian State of Assam on Thursday, causing death and injury to a large number of civilians.

Issuing a message, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama has extended the condolences of all Sri Lankans to those bereaved by these attacks and expressed the hope that the challenge posed by the terrorists will be met with resolve.

The Minister also underscored the SAARC stand that terrorism is a major threat to all civilised societies and to democracy, and its determination to combat the menace with greater resolve. The full text of the Foreign Minister's message:

"It is with great distress that we in Sri Lanka have learnt of the bomb blasts on October 30 in several locations of the Indian State of Assam that have, according to media reports resulted in the deaths of 62 persons and injuries to over 300. The terrorist perpetrators of these blasts have designed them in the most cowardly and cruellest possible manner, by targeting innocent civilians in a serial sequence.

We, Sri Lankans extend our heartfelt condolences to those bereaved by the blasts, while wishing the injured a speedy recovery. We are confident that the challenge posed by the terrorists through these blasts will be met with resolve and that the law enforcement authorities will soon bring the perpetrators to justice.

The SAARC fraternity views terrorism as a major threat to all civilized societies and to democracy, and stands for combating the menace with greater resolve."

Sri Lanka expresses solidarity with Pakistan on earthquake disaster in Baluchistan

Sri Lanka has expressed its solidarity with the Government and the people of Pakistan over the widespread death and destruction caused by the massive earthquake which struck the Baluchistan Province.

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama in a message to the Foreign Minister of Pakistan Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi, stated that Sri Lanka, while expressing heartfelt sympathy for those who have suffered in this disaster, supported all relief and rescue efforts of the Government of Pakistan.

He conveyed his wishes for the speedy recovery of those who have been affected by the earthquake.

FM denounces terrorist attack in Pamplona

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama unreservedly condemned the car bomb explosion at the University of Navarra in the Spanish city of Pamplona on Thursday.

In a message to his Spanish counterpart, Miguel Angel Moratinos, the Minister expressed his understanding of the gravity of the terrorist attack, since Sri Lanka too has suffered at the hands of terrorist.

Describing terrorism as a global threat, Minister Bogollagama has called on the international community to take concerted collective action to eradicate this scourge.