Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08COLOMBO417
2008-04-28 11:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
SRI LANKA: BUS BOMBING KILLS 26
how-toVZCZCXRO9621 OO RUEHBI DE RUEHLM #0417 1191141 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 281141Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8050 INFO RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0860 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 7853 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 6034 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 4369 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1991 RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 4366 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 3461 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 8458 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 5925 RUEHON/AMCONSUL TORONTO PRIORITY 0632 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2733 RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000417
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: BUS BOMBING KILLS 26
REF: COLOMBO 00352
Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4(b,d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000417
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: BUS BOMBING KILLS 26
REF: COLOMBO 00352
Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4(b,d).
1. (U) On April 25, a bomb exploded on a packed, evening
rush-hour bus in Piliyandala, a suburb 15 km south of
Colombo. Twenty-six people were killed, and 64 injured. The
bus was traveling from the outskirts of Colombo to Kahapola,
a village east of the city. Police have arrested nine
suspects in connection with the bombing. The government
blames the LTTE for the attack.
2. (U) President Rajapaksa said in a statement on April 26
that the attack showed "the terrorists had once again
resorted to killing innocent civilians in the face of heavy
setbacks on the battlefield." A military spokesman echoed
this message, saying the LTTE "will resort to these kinds of
attacks when they are losing."
3. (C) COMMENT: Friday night's attack comes less than three
weeks after the April 6 LTTE suicide assassination of
Minister for Highways Jeyaraj Fernandopulle and 13 others
(reftel). It is likely the work of the LTTE, which seldom
claims responsibility for its attacks. The GSL is attempting
to frame the bombing as an indication that the LTTE is
becoming more desperate as it faces increasing pressure in
the North. This claim, however, rings hollow in the wake of
the military's significant losses in Muhamalai on April 23.
BLAKE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: BUS BOMBING KILLS 26
REF: COLOMBO 00352
Classified By: Ambassador Robert O. Blake, Jr., for reasons 1.4(b,d).
1. (U) On April 25, a bomb exploded on a packed, evening
rush-hour bus in Piliyandala, a suburb 15 km south of
Colombo. Twenty-six people were killed, and 64 injured. The
bus was traveling from the outskirts of Colombo to Kahapola,
a village east of the city. Police have arrested nine
suspects in connection with the bombing. The government
blames the LTTE for the attack.
2. (U) President Rajapaksa said in a statement on April 26
that the attack showed "the terrorists had once again
resorted to killing innocent civilians in the face of heavy
setbacks on the battlefield." A military spokesman echoed
this message, saying the LTTE "will resort to these kinds of
attacks when they are losing."
3. (C) COMMENT: Friday night's attack comes less than three
weeks after the April 6 LTTE suicide assassination of
Minister for Highways Jeyaraj Fernandopulle and 13 others
(reftel). It is likely the work of the LTTE, which seldom
claims responsibility for its attacks. The GSL is attempting
to frame the bombing as an indication that the LTTE is
becoming more desperate as it faces increasing pressure in
the North. This claim, however, rings hollow in the wake of
the military's significant losses in Muhamalai on April 23.
BLAKE