The suicide bomb attack cared out by the LTTE at the National Meelad-un-Nabi festival, celebrating the birthday of the Holy Prophet Mohammed, at Godapitiya, Akuressa had killed 15 persons and injured 61. Among seriously injured is the Minister of Posts Mr. Mahinda Wijesekera.

Five other and Cabinet and other Ministers were present at the site of the attack but escaped injury. Forty of the injured were admitted to hospital for treatment while he others received OPD treatment. Minister Wijesekera was first moved to the ICU at the Matara Hospital and later airlifted to the Colombo National Hospital yesterday, with serious head injuries.

The National Meelad-un-Nabi celebrations were organized in the Matara District under the government’s policy of shifting the location of the national festival each year to an area with a significant Muslim population, and its policy of encouraging the religious ad cultural activities of the different communities in Sri Lanka. Akuressa is an area where the Sinhalse, Muslims and Tamils have been living in friendship and harmony for more than a century.

In statement on the attack, the Government said: “The Government is of the view that this is another desperate act that the LTTE terrorists, now on their last legs, have perpetrated to divert the attention from the humanitarian mission of the Security Forces, to flush them out from their last remaining foothold in the Wanni.

The Government remains unwaveringly committed to rid the country of the terrorist menace and bring about peace. This attack will only serve to strengthen the resolve of the Government and the security forces in this regard.”

Here is the text of the Government’s statement condemning the attack, issued yesterday:

The Government condemns in the strongest possible terms the LTTE suicide bomb attack on the Milad-un-Nabi Muslim Festival to mark the birthday of Holy Prophet Mohammed, at Godapitiya, Akuressa, Matara this morning around 10.a.m. in which 14 persons were killed and many others injured, including a Government minister.

The Government notes with utmost contempt this wanton act of terrorism and observes that the attack bears the unmistakable signature of the LTTE. The attack reaffirms the fact that the LTTE is not only a ruthless terrorist outfit but also one which has no regard or respect for religion. This is an attack that deliberately targeted the Muslim Community and one that has sought to sow ethnic and religious disharmony.

Selecting of a Muslim shrine and a day sacred to Muslims, both in Sri Lanka and the world over, to carry out this attack, underscores the hatred the LTTE has towards the Muslim population of Sri Lanka, who have suffered considerably under its policies of ethnic cleansing both in the North and East of Sri Lanka. This reminds us of the LTTE’s massacre of more than 200 Muslims at worship in three Mosques at Kaththankudy and Eravur in the East, in August 1990, in its war of terrorism.

The Government is of the view that this is another desperate act that the LTTE terrorists, now on their last legs, have perpetrated to divert the attention from the humanitarian mission of the Security Forces, to flush them out from their last remaining foothold in the Wanni.

The Government remains unwaveringly committed to rid the country of the terrorist menace and bring about peace. This attack will only serve to strengthen the resolve of the Government and the security forces in this regard.

The Government urges all citizens to remain calm and unprovoked, and support the Security Forces and Police by exercising utmost vigilance as the LTTE, facing imminent annihilation, could very well resort to other similar acts of desperation.

The Government offers its condolences to the families of victims of this brutal attack and wishes speedy recovery of the injured.