Sri Lanka this weekend introduced stringent security measures on public transport after explosions on two buses in the island’s south killed at least twenty mainly Sinhalese civilians and wounded scores more.
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| The new security measures are causing severe delays to the public's movement. Photo Rukmal Perera/ Daily News |
But Sri Lankan analysts speculated the attacks were retaliations for killings of almost twenty Tamil civilians last week in a Sri Lankan air strike and a landmine attack blamed on Sri Lankan commandos.
On Friday a bomb estimated to contain 2kg of explosive killed six people on a bus in Gampaha district, northeast of Colombo.
The blast on the Colombo – Kandy road left over 50 injured, eight in critical condition.
On Saturday a powerful blast ripped through a bus in Galle district, killing 15 people and wounding at least forty others.
Some police officials claimed it was a suicide bombing by the LTTE.
The bus was driving along the southern tourist strip between Ambalangoda and Hikkaduwa when the bomb went off along the main coastal highway.
On Thursday unidentified attackers triggered a claymore mine in LTTE-controlled Vanni, killing two people and wounding four others.
The blast came as hundreds of people buried sixteen civilians, including many children, who were killed when four Sri Lankan jet bombers dropped twelve bombs on a Tamil village in LTTE-controlled Mannar.
The military said that the raid targeted a pre-identified Sea Tiger base. (see pages 4 and 5).
Blaming the LTTE for both blasts in the south, the government said that the Tigers were attempting to divert attention from on going Sri Lankan military operations in the Northeast.
"The aim of the LTTE is to have a backlash against the Tamils and to undermine our efforts to find a peaceful solution," President Mahinda Rajapakse said. He appealed to the Sinhalese community to show maximum restraint.
However the LTTE, which had vowed serious repercussions following the Mannar aerial bombardment, denied the Tigers were responsible for the attacks.
“This is a baseless allegation made without any evidence to support it," LTTE military spokesperson Rasiah Illanthanriyan said.
Japan condemned the two bomb attacks on the buses as cowardly terrorist acts. The embassy did not comment on the attacks in the north.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has imposed new security measures on transport.
“Security will be tightened at every bus depot and railway stations in the country,” Minister Fowzie said. He said the government was planning to introduce more stringent checking at entry points to buses and trains.
As an immediate precautionary measure, all private and public bus owners had been informed to check the passengers before allowing them into the bus or train, he said.
"The passengers will be thoroughly checked. Their bags and luggage will also be checked. We urge the public to co-operate with us," Mr. Fowzie said.
P. A Premasiri, General Manager of Railways, said that all passengers embarking trains would be subject to security checks.
"We may even interrupt long distance trains at certain random points for safety checks", he added.
The Director General of the Media Centre for National Security, Luxman Hulugalle, said that the public is advised not to travel in buses and trains that do not carry out security checks on baggage and other parcels.
President of the Private Bus Owner's Associate Gemunu Wijeratna said all private bus owners had been informed to search passengers before allowing them to board.
Passengers travelling with bags should be informed to keep the bags on the lap, he said.
“Passengers traveling with more than one bag or big bags will not be allowed to enter the bus. Suspicious looking persons will be arrested immediately.”
“Bus owners will notify the authorities through 219 or 118 if there are any passengers creating trouble,” he said. “All measures will be taken.”
