DATE=6/8/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=LANKAN BOMB - AFTERMATH (L-ONLY)CQ
NUMBER=2-263285
BYLINE=STEVEN BARTHOLOMEUSZ
DATELINE=COLOMBO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The Sri Lankan Government has appealed to the
general public to remain calm and directed the police
and the military to take stern action
against anyone instigating acts of violence following
Wednesday's suicide bomb attack which killed a senior
government minister and 21 others and injured at least
60 people. Steven Bartholomeusz has details from
Colombo.
TEXT: A government statement appealed to the people
not to be misled by certain opportunists attempting to
exploit the situation and not to engage in acts of
violence. The government has accused the Tamil Tiger
rebels of carrying out Wednesday's bombing attack and
says the motive was to create communal disenchantment
leading to a backlash against the Tamil community in
the south of the island.
Sri Lankan President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, while
condemning the suicide bomb attack that killed Minster
of Industries, C.V. Goonaratne, directed the police
and the military to take stern action against any
person attempting
to instigate the general public into acts of violence.
Minister Goonaratne was very popular among the people
in his electorate, where he had served for almost 30
years.
Meanwhile, a police curfew was put into effect in
Colombo's south suburbs of Dehiwela, Mount Lavinia and
Moratuwa, from late Wednesday evening until early
Thursday morning while the military and the police
carried out a full search operation. Police say around
50 persons have been questioned following the bomb
attack.
A police official leading the investigation says one
person, suspected to be an accomplice of the suicide
bomber, was taken into custody immediately following
the attack. Police say other suspects have been
arrested and are currently being interrogated.
No one has claimed responsibility for the incident,
but the government has blamed the Tamil Tiger rebels,
fighting for a separate state in the North and East of
the island, for this latest suicide bomb attack. The
rebels have often used explosive strapped suicide
bombers to assassinate politicians and military
personnel.
The bomb attack marred what had been set aside as a
special day to show support for government troops who
are now engaged in fighting with Tamil rebels in the
northern Jaffna Peninsula. The Sri Lankan government
declared June seventh War Heroes Day, and special
ceremonies were held throughout the island, with shops
and offices stopping work to observe two minutes
silence. (Signed)
NEB/SB/PLM
08-Jun-2000 07:20 AM EDT (08-Jun-2000 1120 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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