DATE=12/29/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=LANKA SECURITY (L-O)
NUMBER=2-257587
BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA
DATELINE=COLOMBO
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Sri Lanka's capital is being threatened by
suspected Tamil suicide bombers as millennium
celebrations approach. Vandana Chopra has the details
from Colombo.
TEXT: Police officials say additional checkpoints
have sprung up in the capital, Colombo, following
media reports that rebel suicide bombers plan to
attack millennium celebrations this week.
Security officials say random checks on vehicles and
passersby are being conducted.
The independent "Island" newspaper said the director-
general of police told officials in his department to
tighten security. He was responding to reports
several suicide bombers have infiltrated the city to
assassinate prominent political leaders.
After an election rally on December 18th, a suspected
Tamil-rebel suicide bomber wounded President Chandrika
Kumaratunga in an assassination bid.
At least 26-people were killed and more than 110-
injured in the blast, which came just days before
President Kumaratunga was elected to a second six-year
term in office.
The state-run "Daily News", says the police criminal
investigation department planned to question three-
thousand people in connection with the blast at the
election rally.
Fighting has also intensified in recent weeks in
Northern Sri Lanka, especially around the strategic
Elephant Pass that links the Northern Jaffna peninsula
with the rest of the island.
Last month the guerillas launched simultaneous attacks
on Pallamadu, Periyamadu, Palampiddy, and Madu and
overran the military bases in these areas.
In a matter of days the government lost most towns the
military had taken during two-years. It was the
government's biggest military setback in the 16-year
war.
Tiger guerillas have been fighting for a separate
homeland for the minority Tamil community in Sri
Lanka's North and East since 1983. More than 55-
thousand people have died in the ethnic war that has
strained both the government and economy. (SIGNED)
NEB/VC/RAE
29-Dec-1999 09:13 AM EDT (29-Dec-1999 1413 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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