SRI LANKA: LTTE ATTACK KILLS MINISTER, 13 OTHERS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000352 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER ASEC PGOV PHUM PREL CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: LTTE ATTACK KILLS MINISTER, 13 OTHERS AT MARATHON RACE ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Sri Lanka's Minister for Highways (and Chief Government Whip in Parliament),Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, and 13 others were killed by a suicide bomb blast on April 6 at about 8 am local time, just before the start of a marathon race about 25 kilometers northeast of Colombo. Also killed in the blast were Olympic marathoner K.A. Karunaratne and National Athletic Coach Lakshman de Alwis. A vituperative critic of the Tamil Tigers, Fernandopulle, an ethnic Tamil, has long been a target of the LTTE. Post issued a statement forcefully condemning the attack. This attack will likely reinforce public support for the government's military campaign, and bolster those who argue that the LTTE is not interested in peace. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) 250 marathon runners were assembled when the blast occurred. According to one account, a suicide bomber dressed as a runner came forward and embraced the Minister, detonating an explosive device hidden in his jersey. A review of video footage was inconclusive, but it appears that the perpetrator may have been one of many people, not in athletic gear, but wearing loose clothing, who were standing near the minister. According to press reports, a police constable on duty said no security checks were conducted at the event (although Fernandopulle was presumably accompanied by his normal ministerial security detail). Local hospitals reported receiving up to 90 wounded, some in serious condition. Also killed in the blast were K.A. Karunaratne, the former national marathon champion and Olympic marathon runner, and Lakshman de Alwis, the National Athletic Coach. Several runners were among the dead and wounded. No Americans were among the victims, as best we can ascertain. ¶3. (SBU) Fernandopulle was the third Member of Parliament and second Minister to be killed in Sri Lanka in 2008. A vituperative critic of the Tamil Tigers, Fernandopulle, an ethnic Tamil, has long been a target of the LTTE, who are the most likely perpetrators of this assassination. A week before his death, Fernandopulle supported the GSL's controversial decision not to disarm the TMVP in advance of the Eastern Provincial Council elections. Fernandopulle cited the TMVP's need to protect themselves from the LTTE. The Minister was a brash, outspoken defender of President Rajapaksa's government, known for seizing the limelight in Parliament, thereby offending some of his party colleagues. He has made a number of intemperate, off-the-cuff comments in the past year, once calling UN Under Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes "a terrorist." Although he numbered many Americans among his friends, Fernandopulle did not spare the U.S. in these opportunistic attacks. Just before his death, he gave an interview to the website "Asian Tribune" in which he (incorrectly) accused the U.S. and Norway of secretly supporting the opposition in the Eastern Provincial Council elections due May 10. ¶4. (U) Post issued the following statement on April 7: (begin text): "The United States strongly condemns the terrorist attack on April 6 in Weliweriya, Gampaha District that claimed the life of Minister of Highways and Road Development and Chief Government Whip Jeyaraj Fernandopulle. Also killed in this heinous attack were National Athletic Coach Lakshman de Alwis, well-known marathon runner K.A. Karunaratne, and several other persons, while scores more were injured. Minister Fernandopulle was a friend and valued colleague for many Americans. We offer our heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the victims and to all Sri Lankans for this tragic loss. The United States denounces this vicious and reprehensible terrorist attack on civilians in the strongest possible terms. Its perpetrators have achieved nothing other than to cause further suffering among the people of Sri Lanka. Only COLOMBO 00000352 002 OF 002 a political solution, not continued violence, offers the way forward to end the country's conflict." (end text) ¶5. (SBU) Comment: The Tamil Tigers, as usual, have not claimed responsibility for the bombing, but most observers reckon they are by far the most likely perpetrators of this attack. Fernandopulle had accumulated a number of enemies in his career, but none other than the LTTE who would have the technical means and the will to carry out such a brazen assassination in the full knowledge that it would cause many casualties among the innocent bystanders. To post's knowledge, it is the first time the LTTE has targeted a sporting event, particularly one attended by a beloved national sports figure. The relative lack of security at the event rendered the Minister a soft target. This attack will likely reinforce public support for the government's military campaign, and bolster the argument that the LTTE is not interested in peace. BLAKE