Janaka killed
Bodies and broken chairs seen strewn all over the site of the explosion yesterday. Pic by Thushan Pathiraja
Opposition Leader of the North-Central Provincial Council, Retired Major General Janaka Perera was assassinated in a suspected suicide bombing while he was attending the opening of a new UNP branch office in Anuradhapura yesterday.
Police said the bomber who was described as a short dark bowlegged male, had entered the premises where the ceremony was taking place and triggered the bomb just after Mr. Perera lit the traditional oil lamp near the main door of the building in the presence of several UNP members, including UNP election coordinator Dr. Rajah Johnpulle, whose house and dispensary were set on fire in August and several other provincial councillors.
At least 27 people, including Mrs. Perera and Mrs. Johnpulle were killed and 94 others were injured following the explosion for which the government was quick to blame the LTTE while the opposition had other views including suspicion of TMVP involvement.“Around 8.45 a.m. the UNP office was opened and Mr. Perera was making a speech when the suspected bomber who eye-witnesses described as a short, dark, bowlegged man, shook his head and put his hand in his pocket when the explosion took place,” Police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekera told Daily Mirror. Another witness claimed he saw the suspected bomber walk in while the event was about to conclude and exploded the bomb after ripping open his shirt.
“Just as Mrs. Perera was thanking the crowd who attended the event this man in shorts came from the main entrance, walked past me and went near Mr. Perera. The man then ripped open his shirt and triggered the bomb strapped on his waist,” he said.
The body of the bomber was severed from his legs.
Mr. Perera died on the spot while those injured were rushed to the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital for treatment. Director of the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital Dr. Sarath Bandara said 17 of those admitted for treatment were in a critical condition.
At least three provincial correspondents of leading private media institutions who were covering the UNP event were also killed in the explosion.
“We have sent some patients who were in critical condition for immediate surgery. There are five patients in the ICU and altogether 17 patients who have been critically injured need immediate surgery,” he said.
Police, meanwhile, said three police teams had been depolyed to probe the incident while the report from the government analyst was expected to shed more light on the type of explosives used.
Major General Janaka Perera (Retd.), RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, rcds, psc served as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army (2000-2001). He entered politics recently.
After retiring from the army he served as a Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Australia and Ambassador to Indonesia. He was the opposition leader of the North Central Provincial Council.Mr. Perera was educated at St. Joseph's College, Colombo and joined the Sri Lanka Army in 1966 as an Officer Cadet.
He received his training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in England and completing training he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Ceylon Engineers. Maj. Gen Perera is a graduate of the Royal College of Defence Studies. UNP sees TMVP hand, TMVP denies
[FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]By Sandun A Jayasekera and Jamila Najmuddin
The main opposition UNP yesterday suspected TMVP involvement in the killing of retired Major General Janaka Perera and also blamed the government for the incident.
However the TMVP denied these allegations and said it was in no way involved in the tragedy and that it had nothing to benefit by killing any politician.
UNP general secretary Tissa Attanayaka told journalists the government had set the stage for the brutal murder of war hero Major General Janaka Perera.
“There are several theories regarding this inhuman attack. It could be the work of the LTTE, the TMVP or any other element backed by the government. But it is very clear to all that the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime continuously refused to provide adequate security to Maj. Gen. Perera whom the intelligence reports considered to being a prime target of the LTTE,” Mr. Attanayaka charged.
He said the UNP had reliable information that Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan had visited Anuradhapura a few days ago. TMVP leader Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna Amman told Daily Mirror that rumours of his party’s involvement in yesterday morning’s blast in Anuradhapura was spread by those who wanted to tarnish the party’s image now that it had entered mainstream politics. [/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]“We do not benefit by killing innocent civilians or politicians. My party has entered mainstream politics and some parties are against it. It is easy to blame the TMVP for everything,” Mr. Muralitharan said.
He stressed that yesterday’s blast bore the hallmarks of the LTTE as Maj. Gen. Perera was a prime target of the Tigers having served successfully in the army for several years.
Mr. Muralitharan said the blast showed LTTE’s frustration at fighting a losing battle in the North. “The Major General was a very good politician. We are sad that he and his wife were victims to such a terrible blast. There is no doubt that the LTTE is responsible for his death,” Mr. Muralitharan said.
Reacting to Mr. Attanayaka’s statement that TMVP involvement was likely as Mr. Chandrakanthan was in Anuradhapura three days before the blast said the statement was exaggerated as Mr. Chandrakanthan was in the area three days ago to attend to party work and was innocent. “Mr. Chandrakanthan cannot be blamed for this. He is innocent,” Karuna said.
The TMVP leader said that with the LTTE having its back to the wall was likely to target powerful politicians whose death would affect the country and its people.
“Major General Janaka Perera was a decorated war hero until he joined the UNP when he became a nonentity overnight. Certain state media groups even stooped to so low a level as to ask ‘Who is Janaka Perera, what did he do for the country.’ Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa kept saying Maj. Gen Perera’s life was not threatened and continuously refused to provide him with adequate security,” Mr. Attanayaka said.
Pointing an accusing finger at the government Mr. Attanayaka said there were reasons for government politicians and some police officers to silence Maj. Gen. Perera as he hoped to file several cases on election malpractice against them.
He filed fundamental rights cases against certain police officers for aiding and abetting an arson attack by hooligans on the house and property of Dr. Johnpulle during the NCP polls.
Mr. Attanayake accused the Anuradhapuura police of failing to provide security for yesterday’s opening ceremony of the UNP branch office at Anuradhapura town near the old bus stand.
UNP parliamentarian Palitha Range Bandara said the brutal murder of a person of the calibre of Major General Perera is a national tragedy.
Meanwhile, UNP Parliamentarian Palitha Range Bandara rejected the claim by the North-Central DIG K.P.P. Pathirana that the police had not been informed of yesterday’s opening ceremony at the UNP party branch in Anuradhapura.
“The office of the Leader of the Opposition of the North-Central Province informed DIG Pathirana and HQI, Anuradhapura about the opening ceremony at the UNP party office last Friday (3) in writing, requesting security and permission to use baffles,” he told the media yesterday.
The police had mentioned that they could not provide adequate security for the event as they were not informed about the event in advance.
“On Sunday the HQI had made a log entry assigning constables Udaya Kumara 24993, Bandara 61958, Wijesingha 54410, Bandara 34885 to provide security to the opening ceremony.
“DIG Pathirana’s claim that the police had not been informed about the opening ceremony is incorrect. He is personally responsible for the failure of the police to provide adequate security to the ceremony at the UNP branch office yesterday,” Range Bandara charged. Meanwhile, the UNP was to pass a resolution on the threats to the life of Major General Janaka Perera at the party’s Working Committee meeting tomorrow, a party source said. The decision had been taken after a discussion Major General Perera had with the party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Cambridge Terrace office on September 25.
He had informed his party leader despite numerous intimations to the IGP Jayantha Wickramaratne no action had been taken to provide him with adequate security.
He had apprised Wickremesinghe on his inability to attend party work in the Anuradhapura district due to threats to his life.
Daily Mirror reports,
Ehenam Suba Dhavasak Hamotama
~ Cheers & BEST Regards ~
Randheera Malliyya
[/FONT]
- At least 27 people killed, 94 others injured in suspected Anuradhapura suicide bombing
- Several UNP members including Dr. Johnpulle and media crew among the victims
Opposition Leader of the North-Central Provincial Council, Retired Major General Janaka Perera was assassinated in a suspected suicide bombing while he was attending the opening of a new UNP branch office in Anuradhapura yesterday.
Police said the bomber who was described as a short dark bowlegged male, had entered the premises where the ceremony was taking place and triggered the bomb just after Mr. Perera lit the traditional oil lamp near the main door of the building in the presence of several UNP members, including UNP election coordinator Dr. Rajah Johnpulle, whose house and dispensary were set on fire in August and several other provincial councillors.
At least 27 people, including Mrs. Perera and Mrs. Johnpulle were killed and 94 others were injured following the explosion for which the government was quick to blame the LTTE while the opposition had other views including suspicion of TMVP involvement.“Around 8.45 a.m. the UNP office was opened and Mr. Perera was making a speech when the suspected bomber who eye-witnesses described as a short, dark, bowlegged man, shook his head and put his hand in his pocket when the explosion took place,” Police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekera told Daily Mirror. Another witness claimed he saw the suspected bomber walk in while the event was about to conclude and exploded the bomb after ripping open his shirt.
“Just as Mrs. Perera was thanking the crowd who attended the event this man in shorts came from the main entrance, walked past me and went near Mr. Perera. The man then ripped open his shirt and triggered the bomb strapped on his waist,” he said.
The body of the bomber was severed from his legs.
Mr. Perera died on the spot while those injured were rushed to the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital for treatment. Director of the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital Dr. Sarath Bandara said 17 of those admitted for treatment were in a critical condition.
At least three provincial correspondents of leading private media institutions who were covering the UNP event were also killed in the explosion.
“We have sent some patients who were in critical condition for immediate surgery. There are five patients in the ICU and altogether 17 patients who have been critically injured need immediate surgery,” he said.
Police, meanwhile, said three police teams had been depolyed to probe the incident while the report from the government analyst was expected to shed more light on the type of explosives used.
Major General Janaka Perera (Retd.), RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, rcds, psc served as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army (2000-2001). He entered politics recently.
After retiring from the army he served as a Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Australia and Ambassador to Indonesia. He was the opposition leader of the North Central Provincial Council.Mr. Perera was educated at St. Joseph's College, Colombo and joined the Sri Lanka Army in 1966 as an Officer Cadet.
He received his training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in England and completing training he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Ceylon Engineers. Maj. Gen Perera is a graduate of the Royal College of Defence Studies. UNP sees TMVP hand, TMVP denies
[FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]By Sandun A Jayasekera and Jamila Najmuddin
The main opposition UNP yesterday suspected TMVP involvement in the killing of retired Major General Janaka Perera and also blamed the government for the incident.
However the TMVP denied these allegations and said it was in no way involved in the tragedy and that it had nothing to benefit by killing any politician.
UNP general secretary Tissa Attanayaka told journalists the government had set the stage for the brutal murder of war hero Major General Janaka Perera.
“There are several theories regarding this inhuman attack. It could be the work of the LTTE, the TMVP or any other element backed by the government. But it is very clear to all that the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime continuously refused to provide adequate security to Maj. Gen. Perera whom the intelligence reports considered to being a prime target of the LTTE,” Mr. Attanayaka charged.
He said the UNP had reliable information that Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan had visited Anuradhapura a few days ago. TMVP leader Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna Amman told Daily Mirror that rumours of his party’s involvement in yesterday morning’s blast in Anuradhapura was spread by those who wanted to tarnish the party’s image now that it had entered mainstream politics. [/FONT]
[FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]“We do not benefit by killing innocent civilians or politicians. My party has entered mainstream politics and some parties are against it. It is easy to blame the TMVP for everything,” Mr. Muralitharan said.
He stressed that yesterday’s blast bore the hallmarks of the LTTE as Maj. Gen. Perera was a prime target of the Tigers having served successfully in the army for several years.
Mr. Muralitharan said the blast showed LTTE’s frustration at fighting a losing battle in the North. “The Major General was a very good politician. We are sad that he and his wife were victims to such a terrible blast. There is no doubt that the LTTE is responsible for his death,” Mr. Muralitharan said.
Reacting to Mr. Attanayaka’s statement that TMVP involvement was likely as Mr. Chandrakanthan was in Anuradhapura three days before the blast said the statement was exaggerated as Mr. Chandrakanthan was in the area three days ago to attend to party work and was innocent. “Mr. Chandrakanthan cannot be blamed for this. He is innocent,” Karuna said.
The TMVP leader said that with the LTTE having its back to the wall was likely to target powerful politicians whose death would affect the country and its people.
“Major General Janaka Perera was a decorated war hero until he joined the UNP when he became a nonentity overnight. Certain state media groups even stooped to so low a level as to ask ‘Who is Janaka Perera, what did he do for the country.’ Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa kept saying Maj. Gen Perera’s life was not threatened and continuously refused to provide him with adequate security,” Mr. Attanayaka said.
Pointing an accusing finger at the government Mr. Attanayaka said there were reasons for government politicians and some police officers to silence Maj. Gen. Perera as he hoped to file several cases on election malpractice against them.
He filed fundamental rights cases against certain police officers for aiding and abetting an arson attack by hooligans on the house and property of Dr. Johnpulle during the NCP polls.
Mr. Attanayake accused the Anuradhapuura police of failing to provide security for yesterday’s opening ceremony of the UNP branch office at Anuradhapura town near the old bus stand.
UNP parliamentarian Palitha Range Bandara said the brutal murder of a person of the calibre of Major General Perera is a national tragedy.
Meanwhile, UNP Parliamentarian Palitha Range Bandara rejected the claim by the North-Central DIG K.P.P. Pathirana that the police had not been informed of yesterday’s opening ceremony at the UNP party branch in Anuradhapura.
“The office of the Leader of the Opposition of the North-Central Province informed DIG Pathirana and HQI, Anuradhapura about the opening ceremony at the UNP party office last Friday (3) in writing, requesting security and permission to use baffles,” he told the media yesterday.
The police had mentioned that they could not provide adequate security for the event as they were not informed about the event in advance.
“On Sunday the HQI had made a log entry assigning constables Udaya Kumara 24993, Bandara 61958, Wijesingha 54410, Bandara 34885 to provide security to the opening ceremony.
“DIG Pathirana’s claim that the police had not been informed about the opening ceremony is incorrect. He is personally responsible for the failure of the police to provide adequate security to the ceremony at the UNP branch office yesterday,” Range Bandara charged. Meanwhile, the UNP was to pass a resolution on the threats to the life of Major General Janaka Perera at the party’s Working Committee meeting tomorrow, a party source said. The decision had been taken after a discussion Major General Perera had with the party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Cambridge Terrace office on September 25.
He had informed his party leader despite numerous intimations to the IGP Jayantha Wickramaratne no action had been taken to provide him with adequate security.
He had apprised Wickremesinghe on his inability to attend party work in the Anuradhapura district due to threats to his life.
Daily Mirror reports,
Ehenam Suba Dhavasak Hamotama
~ Cheers & BEST Regards ~
Randheera Malliyya
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