SLMM urged both parties to take action to prevent further attacks

Strongly condemning the “brutal murder” of 12 Sri Lanka sailors on Thursday, the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) warns that if such attacks continue “the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) will be over.”

LTTE explanation

In a strongly worded statement issued on Friday, the SLMM said the explanation by the Tamil Tigers that “the people are behind” the recent attacks on Sri Lanka security forces is “not acceptable”.

Actions speak louder than words and we feel that we need to see more commitment from the two Parties if war is not to break out in Sri Lanka SLMM

“It is safe to say that LTTE involvement cannot be ruled out and we find the LTTE’s indifference to these attacks worrying,” the statement added.

More than 50 soldiers and sailors were killed in the north and the east since President Mahinda Rajapaksa took over on 19 November last year.

Civilians caught

According to Amnesty International, at least 40 civilians were also killed since December.

The SLMM says civilians were subjected to harassment by the security forces as they step up the security measures in retaliation to the attacks.

It is safe to say that LTTE involvement cannot be ruled out and we find the LTTE’s indifference to these attacks worrying SLMM

The truce monitors urged the government to stop harassing the minority Tamils in the country.

The SLMM also urged the authorities to stop the activities of alternative armed groups that are “destabilising the ceasefire” in the east.

“Actions speak louder than words and we feel that we need to see more commitment from the two Parties if war is not to break out in Sri Lanka”.