11.7.2008

At least 4 civilians were killed and 25 others reported wounded when LTTE terrorists opened fire at a passenger bus plying from Monaragala towards Kataragama, at the 49th mile post along the Buttala-Kataragama main road, Friday (July 11), at around 10:15 a.m.

The injured civilians were initially rushed to the hospital at Kataragama and later 19 of them were transferred to the General hospital in Hambantota, the Kataragama hospital sources said. Two females and a 12-year old child (Madushanka) were also among the victims killed in this attack and their bodies have been laid at the hospital, sources further said.

A civilian has also succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment at the Intensive Care Unit, Hambantota hospital sources said, adding that more civilian casualties are being received at the time of reporting.

"A group of LTTE terrorists hiding along the Buttala- Kataragama road near Galge raked the passing civilian bus (NA 3655) with gunfire," military spokesperson Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said, speaking to media. "The bus driver has sped through the ambush and stopped after reaching safety," the spokesperson was quoted further saying.

Security forces are engaged in extensive search operations in the area, defence sources said.

LTTE is a ruthless terrorist organization fighting for a mono ethnic separate homeland for the Tamils in Sri Lanka since 1983. During 3 decades of its bloody terror war against Sri Lankan citizen it has killed tens and thousands of innocent civilians in village massacres, bus bombings, train bombings, suicide bombings, and etc.