Government condemns
The Government condemned in the strongest possible terms the LTTE
suicide bomb attack on the Milad-un-Nabi Muslim Festival to mark the
birthday of Holy Prophet Mohammed, at Godapitiya, Akuressa, Matara this
morning around 10.a.m. in which 15 persons were killed and many others
injured, including a Government Minister.
The Government notes with utmost contempt this wanton act of
terrorism and observes that the attack bears the unmistakable signature
of the LTTE. The attack reaffirms the fact that the LTTE is not only a
ruthless terrorist outfit but also one which has no regard or respect
for religion. This is an attack that deliberately targeted the Muslim
Community and one that has sought to sow ethnic and religious
disharmony.
Selecting of a Muslim shrine and a day sacred to Muslims, both in Sri
Lanka and the world over, to carry out this attack, underscores the
hatred the LTTE has towards the Muslim population of Sri Lanka, who have
suffered considerably under its policies of ethnic cleansing both in the
North and East of Sri Lanka.
This reminds us of the LTTE’s massacre of more than 200 Muslims at
worship in three Mosques at Kaththankudy and Eravur in the East, in
August 1990, in its war of terrorism.
The Government is of the view that this is another desperate act that
the LTTE terrorists, now on their last legs, have perpetrated to divert
the attention from the humanitarian mission of the Security Forces, to
flush them out from their last remaining foothold in the Wanni.
The Government remains unwaveringly committed to rid the country of
the terrorist menace and bring about peace.
This attack will only serve to strengthen the resolve of the
Government and the Security Forces in this regard.
The Government urges all citizens to remain calm and unprovoked, and
support the Security Forces and Police by exercising utmost vigilance as
the LTTE, facing imminent annihilation, could very well resort to other
similar acts of desperation.
The Government offers its condolences to the families of victims of
this brutal attack and wishes speedy recovery of the injured. |
