The attack on the ‘Pearl Cruiser’ an unarmed sea troop carrier with around 700 troops on board, proceeding on a routine rotation accompanied by monitors of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), is not only a gross violation of the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) but also an act of sacrilege on the eve of Vesak- a day marking the birth, enlightenment and passing away of Lord Buddha and venerated by Buddhists throughout the world.

The attack is reminiscent of a previous claymore mine attack on troops going on leave on the eve of the Sinhala-Tamil New Year last month. This was in addition to attacks on civilians aimed at provoking an ethnic backlash, in the multi-ethnic district of Trincomalee coinciding with the Sinhala-Tamil New Year. The LTTE appears to have made it a practice of selecting events and occasions that mark peace, harmony and solidarity amongst the peoples of Sri Lanka, for their dastardly attacks.

The attack by the LTTE is, as the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) ruled in its Statement, is also not only a “gross violation” of the CFA, but a violation of International Law where as the SLMM observed, “non-state actors cannot rule open sea waters or airspace. The LTTE has therefore no rights at sea”. In addition, the attack by the LTTE is also a clear warning to the SLMM and has seriously jeopardized the safety of its monitors who are performing a crucial function under trying circumstances.

Another case of a cruel irony is that the LTTE should time its attack on an unarmed sea troops carrier precisely when the Government was taking all measures to facilitate, through the good offices of the SLMM, the safe transportation of the LTTE Eastern leaders to proceed to the Vanni for their internal consultations in the run-up to the next round of talks in Geneva.

It appears that the LTTE is pursuing an exit strategy from the peace process. While it could be expected that the Sri Lankan State would take all necessary measures to repulse and to deter attacks by the LTTE wherever it occurs, the LTTE must clearly understand the consequences of its dastardly attacks not only on the security forces and civilians, but on the peace process itself.