Colombo (PTI): A stunned Sri Lanka reacted with shock and anger after Tuesday's terror attack on its cricket team in Pakistan on Tuesday, as the Opposition targeted the government for sending the players in place of the Indian squad which pulled out due to security concerns.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is on an official visit to Nepal, condemned the terrorist attack as "cowardly" and cut short his trip and rushed to Colombo. He sent Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama to Lahore to oversee the evacuation of the team -- seven of whom were wounded

"I condemn this cowardly terrorist attack," Rajapaksa said in a message while stressing that the team had gone to Pakistan as "ambassadors of goodwill." The Sri Lankan team was in Pakistan in place of the Indian squad, which withdrew from a scheduled tour following the Mumbai terror attack, which India blamed on Pakistan-based militants.

The government came under attack in Parliament from opposition parties, who asked why were the nation's cricketers sent to trouble-torn Pakistan when other teams, including India, Australia and New Zealand had stayed away due to security concerns.

The government however defended its decision saying it had gone ahead with the tour only after being assured of adequate security measures by Pakistan.