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Sri Lankan government has informed the United States of its willingness to extend all assistance as may be requested to combat terrorism.Sri Lanka’s action followed a request by the US Government for assistance in the context of the recent terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. The full text of the statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: The terrorist attacks, which were witnessed on 11 September 2001 in New York and in Washington are unparalleled and constitute an attack on the international community as a whole. As the world knows, Sri Lanka has suffered vicious terrorist attacks for over 20 years at the hands of one of the deadliest terrorist organisations operating in the world – the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The chronicle of their terroristic activities need not be repeated. The message of President Kumaratunga to President Bush of the United States extending the condolences of the Government and the people of Sri Lanka stressed the paramount necessity for concerted action by the international community for the suppression of the forces of terrorism. Sri Lanka has over the years consistently cautioned the international community at various international fora of the dangers that lay ahead, if the democratic countries did not unite to fight terrorism, collectively. The recent events demonstrate beyond any question the need for the universal interdiction of the international financing network of terrorist groups on which international terrorism depends. Fundraising activities on foreign soil, be it directly or indirectly, through so-called charitable funds must be effectively countered. It is vital that the United Nations continues to play a central role in devising collective measures and ensuring the effective implementation of relevant international instruments, in particular, the International Convention on the Financing of Terrorism, which should be brought into force at the earliest. Sri Lanka, which is playing an active role in the UN Ad-Hoc Committee on the Elimination of International Terrorism as its present Chairman, will continue to work together with all member States at the current session of the UN General Assembly in devising a comprehensive international legal framework to ensure that perpetrators of terrorism do not find safe haven in any part of the world and are brought to justice. The international community needs to be aware of the global network and the linkages amongst terrorist groups which facilitate the carrying out of their campaigns of terror. Concerted, cooperative efforts by all States are imperative in dismantling these linkages. In response to a request from the US Government for assistance the context of the recent terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, the Government of Sri Lanka has already indicated to the US State Department its unhesitating willingness to extend to the US Government all such assistance as may be requested to combat terrorism. The specific modalities of such assistance will be worked out through mutual consultations. 24th September 2001.
Related Links: Commonwealth to unite against terrorism Sri Lankan leaders condemn attacks in New York and Washington Terrorist attacks on the US 'a wake-up call to the world' says President Kumaratunga Most number of suicide bombings in the world by LTTE President Kumaratunga on global terrorism
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