The Hindu : International : Security lapses led to attack, says Sri Lanka's Opposition

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 13, 2004

International

International

Security lapses led to attack, says Sri Lanka's Opposition

By V.S. Sambandan

COLOMBO, DEC. 12. Opposition parties in Sri Lanka today blamed yesrterday's grenade attack on a concert featuring the Indian film star, Shah Rukh Khan, on "security lapses." They demanded that the Government conduct a full-scale inquiry into the attack, which killed two persons and injured 19.

The Deputy Mayor of Colombo, Asath Salley and Buddhist monks from the Jatika Hela Urumaya (JHU) blamed the Government sought a full-scale probe into the incident.

`Government responsible'

"The Government's duty was to protect our Indian guests, a JHU MP, Omalpe Sobitha Thero, said at a press conference today. The party held the "Government responsible for the attack," as "it did not give adequate security."

The Thero said: "if there was any serious harm to such popular Indian stars, there would have been very serious consequences for the country." The Government, which was aware of the protests by a section of Buddhist monks, "should have taken adequate protection," he said.

The grenade, suspected to be lobbed from the third row of the packed audience, exploded in the sterile zone between the nearly 20,000-strong crowd and the stage. It exploded in the open space between Shah Rukh Khan and other Indian actors on the stage and the Indian High Commissioner, Nirupama Rao; other Indian diplomats and Sri Lankan VIPs who were seated in the first row.

Hospital sources said apart from Ritu Shastri, wife of the former Indian cricketer, Ravi Shastri, no foreign national was injured in the attack.

Condemning the attack, Sri Lankan film star, Sanath Gunathilake, extended an apology to the Indian film industry "on behalf of the Sri Lankan film industry." Expressing shock, Mr. Gunathilake told The Hindu : "We have to be ashamed and we apologise."

Recalling the long association between the film stars of the two countries, Mr. Gunathilake, who had brought Indian film legends such as Amitabh Bachchan and Shyam Benegal to Sri Lanka in the past, said Saturday's grenade attack was "a shameful act" and wanted the perpetrators to be brought to book.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International