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Ex-General killed in Anuradhapura blast

PHOTO: AFP

TERROR IN ANURADHAPURA: A suspected LTTE suicide bomber targeted the United National Party office in the Buddhist city of Anuradhapura, killing 22 people on Monday. Opposition leader of Sri Lanka's North-Central provincial council Major General (retd.) Janaka Perera was among the victims.

COLOMBO: A retired Major General and United National Party (UNP) leader of the North Central Province Janaka Perera was among the 28 killed in a suspected LTTE suicide blast at the newly opened party office in Anuradhapura on Monday. The blast left 90 people injured.

There was no word from the Tigers on the carnage. Evidence suggests that only the LTTE could deploy such suicide cadre (Black Tigers). The Tigers have the tradition of annually honouring suicide cadres.

The toll in the powerful blast is expected to climb as at least 15 of the injured are in critical condition. Among others who died were the General’s wife and several prominent members of the party.

The suicide bomber struck at a ceremony to coincide with the formal opening of the office close to a bus stand in the town. As per police the attacker embraced the former commander killing himself and several others.

In recent months, the celebrated General was a vocal critic of the military strategy pursued by the government and favoured a judicious mix of political initiatives with military manoeuvres to resolve the ethnic strife.

He joined the UNP just before the August provincial election and was declared its chief ministerial candidate. However, the ruling combine led by President Rajapaksa secured majority and General (retired) Perera became the Leader of the Opposition.

The military and the government have been anticipating such attacks as the troops closed in on the administrative headquarters of the Tigers in Kilinochchi. The military is convinced that the fall of Kilinochchi is imminent.

Mr. Rajapaksa speaking at a ceremony at Uyanwatta, Matara, condemned the “covertly and brutal act of terrorism” and said it was further proof of the need for everyone to unite for the success of the campaign to eradicate terrorism.

The pro-LTTE TamilNet in a report said the General (retired) “as a Military Commander in Welioya and Jaffna led several campaigns against the LTTE”.

“During Eelam War III, Maj. Gen. Janaka Perera played a major role in Jaffna and in Ma’nalaa’ru (Weli Oya). After the fall of Elephant Pass Base (EPS), he was appointed Overall Operations Commander (OOC) when Major Sarath Fonseka [now Lt. Gen.] was security forces commander in Jaffna.

“A Tamil village, Ma’nki’ndi-malai in Ma’nalaa’ru region, was renamed Janakapura, after the SLA [Sri Lankan Army] evicted Tamils from their village in 1984 and established Sinhala colonies there. Maj. Gen. (retiredd) Perera [then a brigadier] was posted for two years in Janakapura as the commander of the SLA’s Special Forces with a key camp at Janakapura,” it said.

Meanwhile, the Air Force on Monday claimed to have launched effective air raids at two LTTE artillery launching pads in Kilinochchi.

The raids came amid assertions by the Defence Ministry that troops kept up the momentum in the south of Kilinochchi and the west of Mankulam areas “despite heavy resistance” from the LTTE.

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