Govt condemns terror attack

COLOMBO: Minister of Media and Information Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said the Government unreservedly condemns the wanton attack on innocent civilians by terrorists on Wednesday night in Mumbai.

The Government, on behalf of the people of Sri Lanka, offers its sympathy to the people of India in general and in particular to the friends and families of those who fell victim to this horrendous crime against humanity in Mumbai on Wednesday night.

The Government also states that Sri Lanka, stands unequivocally with her friend and neighbour, India, in this hour of grief and unconditionally supports her struggle against terrorism in all its forms everywhere.

The Government also states in this regard that terrorism anywhere in the world is a threat to democracy, decency and civilization everywhere regardless of source, location or political ideology that directs it and stresses that the forces of democracy must work together with determination to rid the world of this menace.

Meanwhile, Export Development and Internal Trade Minister G. L. Peiris told yesterday’s Cabinet briefing that terrorism cannot be defeated acting in isolation, a common strategy and a mechanism is a must to defeat terrorism in the region.

He said it is the nature of terrorism attacking commercial buildings and killing innocent civilians in order to make the economy of the country crash resulting in calamity. Condemning the Mumbai terror attacks on Wednesday night at the Taj Mahal and Oberoi hotels which killed over 100 civilians, injuring scores, Minister Peiris expressing his deepest sympathy to the Indian Government and its people said Sri Lanka has experienced terrorism for three decades and people had suffered enough from terrorism.

He asserted that terrorists are targeting commercial buildings to bring down the economy.

“The nature of terrorism is to damage the economy by attacking commercial locations. The LTTE had targeted commercial buildings on several occasions and created mayhem and disaster,” he added.

Minister Peiris stressed the need for setting up a common strategy and mechanism to defeat terrorism and said that terrorism cannot be defeated by acting in isolation. Since the region is facing eternal terrorism, we should have a common strategy and mechanism to counter terrorism in the region.

Recalling the SAARC Summit in Colombo, Minister Peiris pointed out that the leaders of eight nations at the last SAARC Summit urged for joint action to tackle and defeat terrorism in the region. “Working on a joint mechanism the leaders of the SAARC nations outlined three themes to act on. They are defeating terrorism, food security and energy security.

Sharing the theme, we can only defeat terrorism when we work together,” he added.

Condemning the terror attacks in Mumbai and expressing his sympathy to India, Mass Media and Information Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa said terrorism is a widespreading factor and India is a victim of terrorism, he added.

He reiterated that joint action is a must to fight terrorism. “Sri Lanka is a victim of terrorism like many other countries in the region including India.

Therefore, to restore democracy and free from it, we should all work together to counter terrorism,” he added.