Message of Condolence from President Mahinda Rajapaksa [Friday , June 16, 2006- 11.00 GMT]

“I consider this the most horrendous crime perpetrated by the LTTE in recent times. The Government and I, together with the entire world community have totally condemned this savage act of the LTTE, brutally killing unarmed innocent people,” said President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a message of condolence sent to the families of the victims of the LTTE’s bomb attack at Kebitigollawa.

“We never expect such violence in the name of a peoples’ liberation,” the President added.

The message of condolence said:

"I was shocked and saddened to hear the news of the LTTE claymore bomb attack targeting a bus carrying innocent, ordinary civilians of Kebitigollawa, Kanugaha and several other adjacent areas early yesterday.

The Government and myself, together with the entire world community have totally condemned this savage act of the LTTE, brutally killing unarmed innocent people, including women taking their breast-feeding infants to clinics, students going to sit the GCE Advanced Level examination as well as the mourners proceeding to attend the funeral of a home guard who died in an earlier LTTE terror bomb attack.

I visited the scene of this tragic incident yesterday and consider it the most horrendous crime perpetrated by the LTTE in recent times.

We all know that during two decades of their violent past the legacy the LTTE has left behind in the name of liberating the Tamil people is reducing hundreds of thousands of their own innocent Tamil brethren to refugee status, and burying the bones of thousands of others.

We never expect such violence in the name of a peoples’ liberation. We have endeavoured from the very inception to reach a political consensus and achieve a sustainable peace by instituting a socio-democratic political climate in the country acceptable to all, with honour and dignity.

I have instructed the relevant government authorities to provide all necessary assistance for the last rites of the victims. I wish to state that the Government is committed to provide security for the people in the area and attend to the problems of the affected families.    

Whatever savage and barbaric acts the LTTE may indulge in, we will never allow our search for peace to be derailed. We will create an atmosphere where people can live in peace without fear and mistrust.

Cabinet Ministers representing me and the Government, and representatives of all political parties, participate at this tragic funeral to express the sorrow of the whole nation to you.

I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families, their relations and all others on behalf of the government and myself."

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Last Updated Date: June 16, 2006 -11.00 GMT