SL calls for calm as mine blast death toll rises

Colombo, June 15: At least 61 civilians, including children, have been killed and 40 more-wounded when a fully-loaded passenger bus plying between Anuradhapura and Kebithikkollawa got caught in a powerful claymore mine blast by suspected LTTE cadres this morning.

''The passenger bus was traveling with over 100 civilian passengers when suspected LTTE cadres exploded the powerful claymore (10-15 kg) mine around 0715 hours this morning, killing 58 people on the spot,'' Military Spokesman Brig Prasad Samarasinghe said.

He said of the 40 wounded, three people succumbed to the injuries on admission to the Kebithikkollawa base hospital in Anuradhapura district.

This is a major attack which has taken the lives of over 50 civilians during the last four-year-long ceasefire agreement.

Speaking to reporters, government spokesman and Minister of Media, Anurapriyadarshana Yapa said the motive of the attackers was to ''instigate a backlash in order to fulfill their evil designs'' and urged the people to remain calm.

''The government urges the people to be calm and support its endeavour to eradicate the menace of terrorism,'' he said.

Accusing the LTTE of carrying yet another attack on the civilians, Government spokesman on defence matters, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said ''this was not a mistaken target.'' ''It is not mistaken target because the military do not use this route. The LTTE was well aware that they are civilians. The attack carries the hallmark of the LTTE and there is no iota of doubt that it was carried out of the LTTE,'' Minister Rambukwella said, adding that the government was in touch with the international community, especially the donor co-chairs, the Norwegian facilitators "to come forward to eradicate this menace of terrorism.''

Asked whether the government considered this attack as an act of war, he said ''it is an act of terrorism.'' ''There is no declaration of war, but this is an act of terrorism. As far as the government is concerned, the Norwegian-brokered peace process and Ceasefire Agreement are still on but we have to re-look them seriously in the proper context,'' Minister Rambukwella said.

The blast has taken place exactly a day after a five-member LTTE delegation led by its political wing head SP Thamilselvan, returned to the Wanni after refusing to hold direct talks with the Colombo delegation in Oslo in the presence of the Norwegian facilitators, on matters pertaining to the safety and operational modalities of the Nordic truce monitors.

UNI

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