![]() Most Muslims in Sri Lanka are Tamil-speaking, the descendents of Arab traders who controlled the sea routes from the Middle East to Sri Lanka and southern India for centuries. The government immediately issued a statement again denouncing the LTTE as a "ruthless terrorist outfit but also one which has no regard or respect for religion". The decision to deliberately target a Muslim ceremony to mark the Prophet Mohammed's birthday can only further inflame communal tensions on the island, particularly between Muslims and Tamils, and directly plays into the government's hands. Nothing progressive, however, can come from such a suicide attack. Hundreds, possibly thousands, have been killed and many more injured in recent weeks by the military's artillery barrages and aerial bombing. The LTTE, which is now battling for survival in a small pocket of territory in northern Sri Lanka, no doubt justifies its actions as revenge for the army's indiscriminate attacks on Tamil civilians. ![]() The pro-LTTE Tamilnet website published a report of the incident that did not cast doubt on the LTTE's involvement. While the LTTE has characteristically not claimed responsibility, the targets and the method bear its hallmarks. The bombing was almost certainly carried out by the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Akuressa is a rural town in southern Sri Lanka, 160 kilometres from Colombo. Most of the dead and injured were local politicians or ordinary villagers. Fowzie, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene and Pandu Bandaranayake-received minor injuries. The main targets were government ministers, including post and telecommunication minister Mahinda Wijesekara, who was seriously injured. At least 15 people were killed and 35 injured. The suicide bomber attacked a Muslim ceremony in Akuressa on March 10. ![]() He said the SLFP supporters are helpless and they have no option other than to have regrets over the fate of the party today.A high-profile suicide bombing last week in southern Sri Lanka has been exploited by the government to impose a new set of police restrictions on all major public events, including political meetings. Even a political rival has not charged us of being involved in corrupt politics,’ he said. We managed to serve the people with clean hands. “I represented the SLFP in the Gampaha district for 20 years after the retirement of my father after 30-years of service. Bandaranayake said he had remained in the unity government respecting the decision of the party leader and added that he could no longer do so or he would lose his respect in the face of unending betrayals. ![]() So I decided to join a people friendly political force,” he said. They are only using them for their own benefit. ![]() “I condemn moves to give political powers and privileges to those who joined the SLFP recently who are unable to win even a ward of an urban council. He said as the only “Bandaranayake “in active politics today, he took great pain to leave the SLFP. Former Minister and SLFP stalwart Pandu Bandaranayake said today he joined the Sri Lanka Podu Jana Peramuna (SLPP) in order to be a part of the progressive political journey of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa. ![]()
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