The Sri Lankan military has denied that attacks on Tamil Tigers camps in the North and East following the Kabithigollewa bus blast were an attempt at taking revenge.

“The strikes are an attempt at minimising LTTE’s cruel attacks on civilians,” said Army Spokesman, Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe.

Asked air strikes carried out following the assassination attempt on the Army Commander helped minimise LTTE attacks, Samarasinghe said such attacks are expected from any country when there are attacks by an enemy.

Brigadier Samarasinghe said that the Sri Lankan Army carried out artillery attacks on identified spots in LTTE controlled areas in addition to the air strikes.

“Identified camps were attacked. Civilians were not targets of these attacks,” Samarasinghe added.

LTTE reaction

Head of LTTE peace secretariat, S. Puleedevan, told Sandesaya that they have no involvement in the bus attack at Kebethigollewa.

He denied the government accusations that they were behind the attack on the bus.

Paramilitary groups working with the Sri lankan army has carried out the attack to disrepute the LTTE, Pulidevan added.