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Fri, 03/22/2024 - 10:37
Submitted by nhathong on Wed, 03/04/2009 - 11:08
Cricket obsessed Sri Lanka in shock and anger at the March 3 attack on the national team as it toured Pakistan in place of an Indian squad that had backed out because of security worries.

President Mahinda Rajapakse condemned the attack and ordered Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama to fly to Pakistan to oversee the evacuation of the Sri Lankan players, seven of whom were wounded when gunmen opened fire on the team’s bus in Lahore.

The president stressed that the team had gone to Pakistan as “ambassadors of goodwill”.

Seven Sri Lankan players, including skipper Mahela Jayawardene, were hurt, in the attack along with an assistant coach.

The Sri Lankan team was in Pakistan in place of the Indian team, which had earlier pulled out of a scheduled tour following the November attacks in Mumbai, which India blamed on Pakistan-based militants.

Sri Lankan officials declined to speculate on who may have been behind the attack, amid suggestions that its own rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) or Tamil Tigers, may have been involved.

The Sri Lankan military is on the verge of crushing the LTTE, which has been fighting a long-standing war for an independent Tamil homeland in the northeast of the island.

In Sri Lanka, the sense of shock at the shootings was felt by cricket officials and fans alike.

Airline executive Lalith Fernando was dismayed that any group would target international sporting teams trying to help Pakistan improve its image.

Sri Lankan crickets chief executive Duleep Mendis said that the families of the players had been informed about the incident and moves were underway to fly the team home immediately.

Sri Lankan Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge insisted that the safety of the players had been given all the necessary consider action before the tour began.

VNS/VOVNews

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