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“The assassination of Major General Parami Kulatunga, the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army, is a another example of the LTTE’s continued commitment to terrorism and its cowardly use of suicide killers, deserving of contempt and condemnation”, said President Mahinda Rajapaksa in a special message on the LTTE’s assassination carried out this morning. President Rajapaksa said: “This unabated violence by the LTTE should attract the opprobrium of the entire civilized world. It is a reminder to the international community, and to the Tamil people, that the LTTE remains an organization dedicated to pursue violent means, especially the use of terror to achieve its objectives, which are far removed from the actual needs of the Tamil people.” The President also said this act of violence targeting a high ranking officer of the Sri Lanka Army, and the callous disregard for the safety of civilians in such attacks, will not frighten either the civilians or the security forces, nor deter them from overcoming the LTTE and its terror. Following is the full text of the President’s message: “The assassination of Major General Parami Kulatunga, the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army, is a another example of the LTTE’s continued commitment to terrorism and its cowardly use of suicide killers, and deserves both contempt and condemnation. This unabated violence by the LTTE should attract the opprobrium of the entire civilized world. It is a reminder to the international community, and to the Tamil people, that the LTTE remains an organization dedicated to pursue violent means, especially the use of terror to achieve its objectives, which are far removed from the actual needs of the Tamil people. This act of violence targeting a high ranking officer of the Sri Lanka Army, and the callous disregard for the safety of civilians in such attacks, will not frighten either the civilians or the security forces, nor deter them from overcoming the LTTE and its terror. I pay a special tribute to Major General Kulatunga, an exemplary officer in the Sri Lanka Army, whose qualities of leadership deserve emulation. On this sad occasion I wish to re-state my commitment to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka, and the democratic rights of all citizens of our country, for which cause Major General Kulatunga and the two others who were killed in this act of cowardice, gave their lives in such a tragic manner. These brutal killings should further strengthen all of us in our resolve to defeat the forces of terror and the enemies of democracy, and move toward achieving a just and lasting peace in our country. These killings are further examples of the LTTE’s concerted efforts to derail the peace process through acts of terror, and its total disregard for the international community’s repeated calls on it to cease all violence and acts of terrorism. The highest respect that one can pay to Major General Kulatunga, Sergeant Gomes and Corporal Buddhika, is to remain calm and act with patience on this occasion, and not give in to the sinister calculations of the LTTE. On this sad occasion extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of Major Genera Kulatunga, Sergeant Gomes and Corporal Buddhika. “
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