Hallmarks of LTTE involvement - US, SLMM

COLOMBO: The attack on Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa bears all the hallmarks of an operation by the LTTE, the United States stated yesterday.

"We once again call on the LTTE to renounce terrorism, to give up violence and to join in negotiating a peaceful solution to Sri Lanka's conflict," the US Embassy said in a statement.

The US condemned the terrorist attack. "While we are gratified that Secretary Rajapaksa is safe and well, the United States extends our sincere condolences to the families of those who were killed and wounded in this terrible incident."

British Prime Minister Tony Blair had also got in touch with the High Commissioner in Colombo, expressing condemnation of the attack and his sympathies for those killed and injured. Peace facilitator Norway also vehemently condemned the suicide attack on the Defence Secretary.

Royal Norwegian Embassy spokesman Erik Nurnberg told the Daily News that Norway strongly denounces the attempt on the life of the Defence Secretary.

"We condemn this attack in the strongest terms. Incidents like this have kept on happening. We want to make it clear that such attacks are not going to make it easier to find a solution to Sri Lanka's problem," he said.

The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) said it is deeply concerned over the attack on the Defense Secretary. The SLMM notices that the blast bares the hallmarks of methods used by the LTTE in the past.

"The recent and escalating violence, including today's attack on a high-ranking official, threatens seriously the lives of innocent civilians in Sri Lanka. The SLMM urges the parties to respect the Ceasefire Agreement and to give up violence."