It is regrettable that in less than forty-eight hours the government has been called upon once again to condemn in the strongest possible terms a claymore mine attack on Army personnel carried out by the LTTE at Nallur near Jaffna this morning. The attack claimed the lives of 1 Officer and 6 Soldiers, and injured one Soldier. A diplomatic vehicle of a Colombo based embassy was also damaged.

The LTTE is engaged in a stealth war against Sri Lankan security forces using the cover of the ceasefire agreement. It is clear to all that the LTTE which participated in peace talks with successive governments for the past three and a half years has not transformed from its terrorist tendencies. The LTTE strategy is to provoke a confrontation with the security forces. As a responsible government we will act with restraint, but take all measures required to maintain law and order in the peninsula.

The Secretary to the Ministry of Defence in the last two days has met the Head of the SLMM on three occasions and impressed upon him the serious nature of the situation and urged for decisive measures from the SLMM in relation to LTTE adherence of ceasefire obligations.

We welcome the statement by the US State Department condemning the LTTE attack on Sunday. We urge the international community to condemn such attacks by the LTTE on Sri Lankan security forces and to exert maximum pressure on the LTTE to desist from such attacks.

The government expresses its sympathies and condolences to the families of the deceased Army personnel.

Director Information
Department of Government Information