9TH LEAD

19 killed, 45 wounded, 20 shops burned in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 12 April 2006, 10:41 GMT]
The death toll in the Trincomalee town violence has risen to 19 with more than 45 wounded. Around 15 persons with serious wounds were being treated at Trincomalee hospital. Around 20 Tamil and 2 Muslim shops have been burnt down by thugs armed with incendiary devices assisted by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) troopers, said Trincomalee District TNA parliamentarian Thurairatnasingam. Widespread attacks on Tamils were reported after a bomb explosion in the town around 4:00 p.m where a Sri Lanka Army soldier was reportedly killed. Looting continued in the east port town where an indefinite curfew was clamped down by the Police.

Situation was yet to be brought under control around 6:00 p.m.

Black smoke was seen above the town and residents were seen fleeing Trincomalee

The new Head of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission who was flown to Trincomalee after a meeting with the LTTE Peace Secretariat Director Mr. S. Pulidevan, in Kilinochchi, was assessing the situation from Trincomalee office of the SLMM, sources said.

Colombo has dispatched Minister of Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion, Rohitha Bogollagama, and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chandra Fernando to Trincomalee to assess the situation.