The United Kingdom and Russia condemned the suicide attack by the LTTE at on a religious festival at Akuressa.

Lord Malloch-Brown in a statement issued on March issued a statement March 10 said: "I strongly condemn today's suicide attack on a religious festival in Matara. My thoughts are with the victims of today's attack and with their families, including Mr. Mahinda Wijesekara, Post and Telecommunications Minister. All such cowardly attacks on civilians are abhorrent and the targeting of a religious festival even more so”.

Russia too resolutely deplored the attack and reiterated its backing for the government in combating terrorism and separatism.

“Moscow resolutely deplores this barbaric crime and expresses heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved families and victims of the terrorist act,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said in a statement.

Russia reiterates its consistent support for the people and the government of Sri Lanka in their struggle against terrorism and separatism and expresses hope of early restoration of peace and stability in the island on the basis of political solution of the existing problems, Nesterenko said.