Suicide Blast Kills 27 in Sri Lanka
October 6th 2008 12:00
Suicide Blast Kills 27 in Sri Lanka
6 October 2008
A suicide bomber has killed more than 27 people and injured over 80 in the central Sri Lankan city of Anuradhapura. Official government sources blame the LTTE separatist rebels for the act. Killed in the blast were the retired Sri Lankan Army General Janaka Perera and his wife.
Janaka Perera had taken up the role of provincial head of the United National Party and was attending a ceremony to open offices when the attack occurred.
Hours before the attack in a separate incident a roadside bomb wounded another village near Anuradhapura. The retired General is believed to have been targeted for because his past success in stopping the LTTE advances in the North of the island. The LTTE are under extreme pressure with the Sri Lankan Army within 2 km of the capital Kilinochchi.
Suicide attacks by the LTTE have been expected for some time with several being foiled in recent days. Most recent was the discovery of a house in the outer Colombo suburb of Negombo of two suicide jackets and explosives hidden in a house. Prior to that a suicide jacked was found hidden under a seat in a Church in the capital of Colombo.
Editorial Comment:
Anuradhapura is the ancient capital of Sri Lanka dating back more than 2000 years. It is home to the ruins of a once vibrant glorious city and temples much of which has been taken over by the jungle. The area is of religious importance to Buddhists because of the many temples and places of devotion. Of primary importance is the Temple of the sacred Bo Tree, reputed as the oldest cultivated tree in existence, and grown from a branch of the original tree where Lord Buddha was said to have found enlightenment. In 1983 the LTTE attacked this temple and killed all the monks inside. In the mid 1990’s I was able to witness that the heavy doors of the temple were still scarred with bullet holes.
6 October 2008
27 dead and 80 injured
A suicide bomber has killed more than 27 people and injured over 80 in the central Sri Lankan city of Anuradhapura. Official government sources blame the LTTE separatist rebels for the act. Killed in the blast were the retired Sri Lankan Army General Janaka Perera and his wife.
Chairs thrown about
Janaka Perera had taken up the role of provincial head of the United National Party and was attending a ceremony to open offices when the attack occurred.
Hours before the attack in a separate incident a roadside bomb wounded another village near Anuradhapura. The retired General is believed to have been targeted for because his past success in stopping the LTTE advances in the North of the island. The LTTE are under extreme pressure with the Sri Lankan Army within 2 km of the capital Kilinochchi.
Army inspects the carnage
Where it happened.
Suicide attacks by the LTTE have been expected for some time with several being foiled in recent days. Most recent was the discovery of a house in the outer Colombo suburb of Negombo of two suicide jackets and explosives hidden in a house. Prior to that a suicide jacked was found hidden under a seat in a Church in the capital of Colombo.
Editorial Comment:
Anuradhapura is the ancient capital of Sri Lanka dating back more than 2000 years. It is home to the ruins of a once vibrant glorious city and temples much of which has been taken over by the jungle. The area is of religious importance to Buddhists because of the many temples and places of devotion. Of primary importance is the Temple of the sacred Bo Tree, reputed as the oldest cultivated tree in existence, and grown from a branch of the original tree where Lord Buddha was said to have found enlightenment. In 1983 the LTTE attacked this temple and killed all the monks inside. In the mid 1990’s I was able to witness that the heavy doors of the temple were still scarred with bullet holes.
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Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
The LTTE label themselves as a secular organization.
This is an ethnic conflict. The LTTE are Tamils with a separatist agenda. Tamils are predominantly Hindu. However they do forcibly recruit from any religion.
The majority ethnic group is Singhalese about 70% of the nation who are predominantly Buddhists. However the majority of Tamils live in areas that are not LTTE controlled.