The UN condemns all violence and indiscriminate attacks against civilians in Sri Lanka asid a statement issued yesterday (April 8) by the UN office of the resident coordinator in Colombo. The UN also urges all parties to the conflict to do everything within their power to avoid civilian casualties.

" I strongly condemn this suicide attack, which not only killed Minister Fernandopulle and 14 civilians but also injured many innocent bystanders," said Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EU commissioner for external relations in a statement on Monday (7) condemning the attack.

"The EU condemns all forms of terrorism and violence against civilians. The EU continues to believe that there can be no military solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka and only a negotiated settlement can open the way for a lasting peace," said Ferrero-Waldner.

Australia too condemned the suicide attack. "Australia condemns terrorism in all its forms. The use of terrorist methods by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is completely unacceptable".

"Australia encourages the Sri Lankan Government and all parties involved to redouble their efforts to develop realistic proposals to support a political solution to the conflict".

Bangladesh Monday condemned the assassination of Sri Lankan Senior Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle by LTTE.

"It was a cowardly act of terrorism that we strongly condemn. Our prayers are with the families of Fernandopulle and others who lost their lives in the incident," Bangladeshi caretaker government Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said in a message.