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Viewing cable 08COLOMBO352, SRI LANKA: LTTE ATTACK KILLS MINISTER, 13 OTHERS

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08COLOMBO352 2008-04-07 10:50 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Colombo
VZCZCXRO5055
OO RUEHBI
DE RUEHLM #0352/01 0981050
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 071050Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7970
INFO RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0825
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 7818
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 6001
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 4341
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1948
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 4340
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 3436
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI PRIORITY 8425
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI PRIORITY 5899
RUEHON/AMCONSUL TORONTO PRIORITY 0609
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2703
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
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