SL opposition chief killed in suicide attack

Monday, October 6, 2008 at 8:10 am

At least 22 people, including the opposition leader of Sri Lanka’s North-Central provincial council Maj General Janaka Perera, were killed and 35 others injured when a suspected LTTE suicide bomber blew himself up near a bus stand in the Buddhist city of Anuradhapura today (October 6).

“At least 22 people were killed in the bomb attack which has been carried out by a suspected LTTE suicide bomber in Anuradhapura,” army spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said. It is believed that the LTTE had specifically targeted Perera who has launched many operations against the Tamil Tigers while serving in the army.

The bomber walked into the opening of a new office for the opposition United National Party (UNP) in the north central town of Anuradhapura, 200 km north of the capital Colombo, attended by retired Major-General Janaka Perera, police said.

“A suicide bomber went inside and exploded. My senior officer there said 22 people were killed and among the dead were Janaka Perera and his wife,” Deputy Inspector General KPP Pathirana told. Perera in August unsuccessfully ran to be chief minister of the province, a powerful local position.

Perera’s wife and a few councillors of the main Opposition United National Party (UNP) were also among those killed when the bomb went off near the party office close to the old bus stand in Anuradhapura, about 212 kms north of Colombo, at around 8.45 am this morning, sources said.

UNP manager in Anuradhapura Dr John Pulle and his wife, also lost their lives in the bomb attack.

“The bomb blast occurred around 8.45 a,m in a function held to declare open the new UNP office in Anuradhapura,” the sources said.

Perera, Chief of Staff of Sri Lankan Army till 2001, also served as the country’s High Commissioner to Australia and Ambassador to Indonesia after retiring from the army. Perera, who is considered as one of the most distinguished generals in Sri Lanka, joined politics and was the opposition leader of the North Central Provincial Council till his death.

Undertaking the ‘Operation Kinihira’ after being appointed Commander Security Forces, Jaffna, Perera is credited with launching an effective counter attack that halted the LTTE advance.

He eventually succeeded in establishing the current defence line in the Jaffna peninsula. As a Colonel in the yesteryears, Pererea took a major role suppressing the JVP insurrection of 1987-89. He was the Provincial Commander of the North-Western Province as well as in-charge of the special operations of the ‘Operation Combine’ in Colombo which led to the capture of JVP leader Rohana Wijeweera.

When a Brigadier, Perrea was one of the key players of the Operation Riviresa which led to the liberation of the Jaffna peninsula from LTTE.

(Agencies)

( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)

SL opposition chief killed in suicide attack

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