Colombo, March 10: Condemning the suspected LTTE
suicide bomb attack near a mosque in the southern Sri Lankan city of Matara in which at least 15 people were killed, the government on Tuesday asked the citizens to remain calm and unprovoked.
"The government condemns 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," an
official release said here.
At least 15 people were killed and more than 20 others,
including a government minister, injured in the incident at
Matara, about 160km from Colombo.
"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 release said.
"The government notes with utmost contempt this wanton
act of terrorism and observes that the attack bears the
unmistakable signature of the LTTE," it said.
"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," it added.
"This is an attack that deliberately targeted the
Muslim community and one that has sought to sow ethnic and
religious disharmony," the release said.
Selection of a Muslim shrine and a day sacred to them
to carry out this attack, underscores the hatred the outfit
has towards the Muslim population of the country, who have
suffered considerably under its policies of ethnic cleansing
both in the North and East of the island nation, it said.
"This reminds us of the LTTE's massacre of more than
200 Muslims at worship in three mosques at Kaththankudy and
Irayur in the East in August 1990, in its war of terrorism,"
the official release said.
The government is of the view that this is another
desperate act that the terrorists, now on their last legs,
have perpetrated, it said.
This is 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 statement said.
"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
release said.
The government offers its condolences to the families
of victims of this brutal attack and wishes the speedy
recovery of the injured, it said.
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, March 10, 2009, 00:00