There is a strange conspiracy of silence over yesterday’s LTTE attack on the Thaladi Church, which killed six soldiers and injured 10 others in addition to the destruction it caused the church property, said Government Defence Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella addressing a media briefing in Colombo today (13). Neither religious authorities nor so-called human rights groups have come out to condemn this brutal attack though they have vociferously condemned even the misfiring of a gun in the vicinity of church premises earlier, he added.

The soldiers have gone to the church at the request of the priests to assist in clearing the premises prior to a festival.

Defence Ministry sources said that LTTE mounted artillery shell attacks on Thalladi town since 9.a.m. and nine artillery shells have fallen on the church premises. Sri Lanka Army retaliated with heavy gun fire towards identified LTTE artillery positions in the non-liberated areas north of Mannar, defence sources added.