UK Lobby censure aerial attack

Statement issued by the Rt. Hon. the Lord Naseby of Sandy, Co-Chair of the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on Sri Lanka.

"The members of the UK All Party Parliamentary Group on Sri Lanka unequivocally condemn the offensive aerial bomb attack carried out by the LTTE on the Sri Lanka Air Force base in Katunayake on 26 March 2007 killing and injuring Air Force personnel and causing damage to military infrastructure. This provocative action really undermines the peace process.

"This attack demonstrates the offensive air capability of the LTTE which undoubtedly poses a threat not only to the security of Sri Lanka, but to the entire South Asia region. It also exemplifies the LTTE's steady expansion of its military capabilities with the objective of carrying out terrorist attacks. The fact that the LTTE has used ultra light aircraft which are difficult to detect on radar for carrying out bombings and possible suicide missions; is a development which the international community must note with great alarm.

The acquisition of air capability by a terrorist movement poses a new threat and runs counter to the current global efforts to defeat terrorism. "Undoubtedly international terrorist groups constantly adopt each others tactics and this incident sets a dangerous precedent, which the All Party Parliamentary Group urges the British Government to take cognisance of this factor.

"The UK All Party Parliamentary Group on Sri Lanka, through its Co-chair Lord Naseby of Sandy requests the British Government to fully implement the LTTE proscription, bearing in mind the close nexus between its fund raising in this country and its acquisition of further military strike capabilities. The recent detection of the ship loads of arms consignments and the possession of aircraft with military hardware are a clear result of the steady flow of funds to the LTTE's war chest.

The All Party Parliamentary Group is strongly convinced that the UK Government firmly supports the efforts of the Government of Sri Lanka to bring about a political settlement to the conflict through discussion. The British Government therefore must bring concerted pressure upon the LTTE to return to the negotiating table, by pro-actively curbing its fund raising activities in the UK, which are undoubtedly a major contributory factor to its present intransigence."