Government expresses concern and condemnation over the cowardly attack on Defence Secretary
[Friday, December 01, 2006 - 12.30 GMT] 
      
The Government of Sri Lanka expresses grave concern and condemnation over the cowardly unsuccessful attempt on the life of Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa this morning in Colombo. Although the police investigations on the incident are yet to conclude, the modus operandi of the suicide bomb attack has the hallmark of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) which has a long history of suicide bomb attacks on civilian and military targets.

Two persons died and eight military personnel and 5 civilians were injured and the vehicle of the Defence Secretary was badly damaged.

The GOSL condemns this dastardly attack in no uncertain terms and wishes to emphasise that a democratically elected government would not succumb to such terror tactics unleashed by the LTTE. The GOSL is totally committed to peace. However, it would not shirk its responsibilities towards the people of Sri Lanka and would not hesitate to take appropriate action to safeguard the people and the sovereignty of the State.

The GOSL, while urging the LTTE to give up the path of terrorism and resume peace talks genuinely even at this late stage, seeks the cooperation of the international community to impress upon the LTTE the futility of terror tactics and the imperative need for resumption of peace talks to find a lasting political solution.

Anusha Palpita
Director of Government Information

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Last Updated Date: December 01, 2006 -12.30 GMT