U.S. condemns Maheswaran assassination, Slave Island attack

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 January 2008, 10:04 GMT]
The United States embassy in Colombo Wednesday issued a press statement condemning the assassination on January 1 of Thiyagarajah Maheswaran, United National Party Member of the Sri Lankan Parliament. The statement also condemned the deadly attack on Wednesday in the Slave Island area of Colombo that killed and injured numerous persons, including members of the Sri Lankan armed forces and civilians.

Full text of the press release issued by the U.S. Embassy follows:

United States condemns killing of Member of Parliament T. Maheswaran and January 2 attack in Colombo

COLOMBO, January 2, 2008 – The United States condemns the assassination on January 1 of Thiyagarajah Maheswaran, United National Party Member of the Sri Lankan Parliament. We express our sympathy to the family of Mr. Maheswaran, his parliamentary colleagues, and the people of Sri Lanka. We urge the Government of Sri Lanka to investigate the circumstances of this killing and to arrest and prosecute those responsible without delay.

The United States also condemns the deadly attack on January 2 in the Slave Island area of Colombo that killed and injured numerous persons, including members of the Sri Lankan armed forces and civilians. We offer our condolences to the families of the victims. We call on all parties to seek a negotiated, peaceful settlement of the conflict.

Chronology: