Sri Lanka: Truce Ends, Terror Attacks Occur

No Comments | February 7th, 2008 | Trackback

Two attacks on civilians in recent days and other incidents prompted the U.S. Embassy in Colombo to strongly advise visitors to avoid traveling by bus or train throughout the country. On Feb. 3, 11 civilians were killed and 100 injured when a suicide bombing occurred in Colombo’s Fort Railway Station. The day before, a bomb on a bus from Kandy to Anaradhapura, both popular tourist sites, exploded at Dambulla and killed 18 people and injured more than 50. The Embassy further advised U.S. citizens to defer non-essential visits to crowded public places and high-profile venues, and as much as possible to avoid government buildings or military installations because in the past they have been targets of Tamil Tiger (LTTE) violence. The truce between the government and the Tamil Tigers, which was shaky but held for six years, ended Jan. 16 when the government voted to end it in the face of growing hostilities, and a roadside bomb blew up a civilian bus, killing 24. The Tigers strategy now appears to be to attack civilians and sow seeds of terror among the populace.