International   

It’s a sign of LTTE’s setbacks: Rajapaksa

COLOMBO: A day after the train blast triggered by suspected LTTE cadres, in which nine people were killed and 70 injured, Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa said on Tuesday that there would be no let up in the battle against terrorism.

The train blast was a desperate act by the LTTE to whip up communal strife, he said. “My government and I are committed to defeating terrorism. No one should have expectations that there will be a let up in the battle against terrorism because of the frenzied attacks by the LTTE. I will leave no room for terrorism in this country,” he said.

Mr. Rajapaksa said the Dehiwela blast followed the discovery of three other bombs placed in buses. These acts were proof of the LTTE’s desperation in the face of “current defeats and setbacks” in the north, he said.

He said the government’s battle against terrorism was not directed against the Tamil people and it was committed to protecting their rights. “We intend to take the success in the East forward, until we ensure the people of the North of their rights. We have sent a speedy message to the North from the East,” he said. Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) leader V. Anandasangaree condemned the train blast and the claymore mine attack at Murugandy. He urged the LTTE to come to negotiate with the government.

“As I had pointing out, the human rights violations continue unabated both in the government- and LTTE-controlled areas. The only difference being that there is transparency in the former and complete blackout in the latter, where people open their mouths only when asked to do so,” he added.

Meanwhile, the military said 26 LTTE cadres were killed in “counter-terrorist operations” in Vavuniya, Mannar and Welioya battlefronts.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Suu Kyi’s house arrest extended
Xenophobes attack South Asians in Rome
It’s a sign of LTTE’s setbacks: Rajapaksa
France for promoting nuclear energy to fight climate change
Nepal to be declared republic
CA members take oath
Iran may be withholding information, says IAEA report
Complaint against Lawson
Bangladesh sets up Truth Commission
EADS invites India to join Eurofighter upgrade
The Geography Bee from India

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu