The United States is concerned over wider implications for Sri Lanka’s security, especially in the light of the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan national cricket team in Lahore last Tuesday (3rd March 2009).

The US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian & Central Asian Affairs, Richard Boucher said this responding to Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama’s remark that the terror strike in Lahore was the first occasion where Sri Lankan nationals had been targeted abroad, although thousands of Sri Lankans have lost their lives due to atrocities unleashed by the LTTE within the country.

This exchange of views took place when the US Assistant Secretary telephoned Minister Bogollagama in Colombo yesterday (6th March 2009) to express solidarity with Sri Lanka following the near fatal attack on the Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore.

A Media Release from the Foreign Ministry said that recalling the immediate reaction to the terrorist outrage by US President Barack Obama, Assistant Secretary Boucher reiterated the strong opposition of the US to terrorism. The Foreign Minister conveyed his sincere appreciation for President Obama’s forthright and spontaneous condemnation of this cowardly assault on a sports team.

US help for probe

Briefing Mr. Boucher on the discussions he had held with Pakistani leaders in Islamabad, including President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, during his brief visit to Pakistan in the aftermath of the incident, Minister Bogollagama said he was satisfied with the assurances given by the Pakistani leadership that no effort will be spared to apprehend the culprits and bring them to justice. Moreover, the Pakistani leaders had offered to share complete details of their investigation with the Sri Lankan authorities.

LTTE not ruled out

The Foreign Minister said that it was not possible to rule out the role of the LTTE in the terror attack, given the high degree of sophistication of the planning and the evidence of a nexus between terrorist groups worldwide. Assistant Secretary Boucher offered US assistance in the investigation that is underway, which Minister Bogollagama deeply appreciated. They agreed to remain engaged in this regard.

The Minister categorically expressed Sri Lanka’s firm opposition to isolate Pakistan in the sporting arena or in any manner internationally over this incident.

Responding to Assistant Secretary Boucher’s concern over the fate of the civilian population being held hostage by the LTTE in the tiny coastal pocket in the Mullaitivu district, the Foreign Minister urged the US to use its considerable influence on the Sri Lankan Tamil Diaspora to exert pressure on the LTTE to free the innocent civilians, in line with similar demands on the LTTE by other quarters of the international community. The US Assistant Secretary responded positively to this suggestion. He further said that the US Government was aware that the LTTE was firing at Sri Lankan security forces from among the civilians, and hoped that the latter would exercise restraint and not take retaliatory action. Minister Bogollagama assured him that the security forces have always respected the sanctity of safe zones designated by the Government, where the civilian population has been herded into by the LTTE, and will continue to desist from directing retaliatory fire at such areas, notwithstanding the repeated provocations by the LTTE against them, using the hapless civilians as human shields.

The Minister also underscored the profound concern of the Government over the plight of the trapped civilian population who are being forcibly held against their will and is acutely conscious of their untold pain and hardship. Hence, he said that despite the almost insurmountable logistical and practical difficulties, the Government will continue to keep these people supplied with food, medicine and other essential items. He noted that the Government had enough stocks of goods in hand, but the main difficulty was the delivery mechanism, as these goods had now to be sent by sea, due to land access being denied by the LTTE. Minister Bogollagama concluded the telephone conversation with the US Assistant Secretary by reiterating the Sri Lankan Government’s firm commitment to remain fully engaged with the international community in addressing the humanitarian situation.