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Liberals outraged

Communists condemn

UNP blames Government

Political parties, community leaders and the public at large yesterday condemned the LTTE's attempt on the Prime Minister's life and urged national leaders to adopt extra security measures at this critical juncture.

The LTTE's target is to destroy all national leaders who oppose their ultimate goal, a separate state, they stated commenting on Monday's suicide attempt on the Prime Minister's life, members of the clergy, representatives of the political parties, trade unions and community leaders told the 'Daily News' in unison yesterday.

A member of the Karaka Maha Sangha Sabha of the Malwatte Chapter of Siyam Maha Nikaya Ven. Walgowwagoda Sri Wimala Buddhi Nayaka Thera said Monday's assassination attempt on Premier Ratnasiri Wickremanayake by a LTTE suicide bomber was a clear manifestation of their hatred towards the PA government.

They are attempting to destroy the Government by assassinating the PA leaders. At a time like this the UNP should act with more responsibility and should not encourage these acts driven by greed for power.

Chief Sanganayaka of the Southern Province and Vidyodaya Parivenadhipathi Ven. Akuratiye Amarawansa Nayaka Thera said: Everyone should condemn terrorism which has gripped the whole world. In tackling terrorism, we can take the USA as a prime example. The LTTE which is responsible for killing thousands of innocent civilians have also assassinated a number of national leaders irrespective of their ethnicity. Their untimely death was a great loss to the country. With the foiled attempt on Monday to target the Prime Minister, it was very clear their hard try to destroy our national leaders has not yet been given up, he said.

Adhikarana Sangha Nayaka of Polonnaruwa, Thamankaduwa Kubukkadawala Dheerananda Thera said: Those terrorists attempted to assassinate the President during last year's Presidential election. This time, their target was the PM. In this context, it is very sad to note that some parties in the South have become the cat's paw of these ruthless terrorists. We all should join hands to eradicate terrorism.

Former JVP MP Vijitha Herath said the foiled suicide attempt on Monday had given further proof to the country that the LTTE would spare no effort to slay any leader from any political party in order to accomplish their quest for a separate State.

He said the LTTE was out to create a catastrophe on the eve of the poll and the JVP will urge all progressive political movements to get-together to defeat the separatist elements and their fascist dreams.

Former UNP parliamentarian Mahinda Samarasinghe said the aborted assassination bid on the PM by a LTTE suicide bomber was clear proof of the inability of the incumbent PA Government to ensure proper security on the eve of a crucial General Election.

He stressed that it was the duty of the Government to ensure tight security for all political parties campaigning for the December 5 poll and that the Government will have to take full responsibility for the lapse in security which enabled the suicide cadre to blow himself up having missed his target.

"At a time when the country is on the threshold of a vital General Election if the security could be breached so effectively we hold the Government responsible not only for the blast but also for the innocent lives lost", commented Samarasinghe.

Chairman of the Public Sector Trade Union Federation W. H. Piyadasa said the intention of the LTTE was to assassinate national leaders and bring a puppet into power whom it could manipulate to its own advantage.

Piyadasa said that at present various attempts are being made by the LTTE to defeat the PA Government at the forthcoming General Election and ensure victory for the UNP.

"The objective of the LTTE is to create violence and disrupt civilian life to bring the UNP to power to facilitate the implementation of UNP-LTTE secret agreement."

He said the working class should join hands to bring victory for the PA by defeating LTTE attempts to weaken the PA vote bank.

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