LTTE terrorists have exploded a bomb targeting a road marathon
organized in the Weliweriaya town around 7.30 this morning.
Minister of Highways and Road Development Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, who
was the chief guest to the occasion along with many civilians was
re****ted killed in the cowardly bomb attack. According to latest
re****ts received, at least 12 people were killed and over 50 injured
in the explosion.
K.A Karunarathne is also said to be among the dead who was a former
national and South Asian marathon gold medalist.
The bomb has been exploded just before the Minister declared the start
of the marathon at the Kanthi play ground, in Weliweriaya,
corresponding with a 'Hindu-Sinhala New Year' event.
Meanwhile, Gampaha Division SSP Hector Dharmasiri was also seriously
injured and admitted to the General Hospital at Gampaha. Gampaha
Hospital sources, speaking to defence.lk said that over 90 people were
admitted with serious injuries. 3 civilians were also admitted to the
general hospital at Ragama and one was re****ted in critical condition,
according to Ragama hospital sources.
Minister Jeyaraj was a politician who represented the parliament from
the Sri Lanka Freedom Party since 1983. A lawyer by profession,
Minister Jeyaraj was a fluent speaker in Sinhalese, Tamil and English
languages. Being a faithful catholic the Minister expressed his
concerns over LTTE's occupation of scared Madhu church and the removal
of the Madhu statue.
During his career, Minister Jeyaraj has held the many ministerial
****tfolios including, the Minster of Catholic Affairs, Minister of
Ethnic Concession and National Unity, Minister of ****t and Aviation,
and Minister of Road Development. He was 55 years old and a father of
two children. He had also been appointed the UPFA organizer for the
Trincomalee District for the forthcoming provincial council elections
in the East.
LTTE is a ruthless terrorist outfit notorious for crimes against
innocent civilians. In its pursuit for a mono ethnic separate homeland
for Tamils, the outfit has killed and maimed over tens and innocent
children, Tamil and Sinhalese political leaders in indiscriminate bomb
attacks. FBI in a recent re****t called LTTE the most dangerous
terrorist outfit in the world.
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