Sri Lanka: A father weeps for his daughter - and calls for end to terrorism

A wailing father standing beside the body of his only 21 year old daughter called on His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa to "kill" the terrorists and end terrorism as a string of previous attempts to bring peace by holding "Talks" have all ended in failure.

He recalls that his daughter was employed but at the same time was attending 'classes'. She at the time of her death was studying for her degree in a University as an 'external" student. Happy to be at home with her two brothers and parents she had come home to spend a few days.

The father stated that on that fateful 16th morning around 7.30 the LTTE terrorists targeted the bus she was traveling by exploding a deadly Claymore mine when the bus was just a mile away from home Although injured she had run away from the bus as many other passengers had done to escape, only to be gunned down by the ruthless terrorist "cut off" group .

A father of three, including two sons and a daughter, he like any other, is unable to bear the tragic loss of his most precious possession in life. He reiterates that no parent should experience this tragic loss in their lifetime and the only alternative to prevent a recurrence of such tragedies is to kill the terrorists.

He said that terrorists should be pursued relentlessly until the last terrorist is killed, so that peace could prevail in the country.

23 passengers were killed and 67 were injured when a LTTE Claymore mine exploded. Some died when attempting to escape after the explosion when the bus belonging to the Ceylon Transport Board carrying civilians was targeted by the terrorists at the 3rd km post at Niyadella on the Buttala - Moneragala road. The injured were evacuated to the Moneragala, Badulla, Buttala, Mahiyangane and the Colombo National hospitals. Four more succumbed to their injuries making the total killed 27. 49 were injured.

Source: The Media Centre for National Security, Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law & Order