Government condemns assassination

The Government expresses its deepest sorrow regarding the assassination last morning of Minister of Highways and Road Development and Chief Government Whip, Jeyaraj Fernandopulle by the LTTE in Weliveriya and condemns without reservation the vile and cowardly act of terrorism that took the life of the Minister and 11 others, states a Government Information Department press release.

"Jeyaraj Fernandopulle commenced his political carrier in 1970 as an election agent for a SLFP candidate. In 1984, he was appointed as the chief organiser by the SLFP for the Katana electorate.

From there onwards he has been elected to Parliament five consecutive times in the years 1989, 1994, 2000, 2001 and 2004. He has held the profiles of Plan Implementation and Parliamentary Affairs; Civil Aviation, Tourism and Christian Affairs; Trade, Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Marketing Development; and the time of his death was the Minister of Highways and also the Treasurer of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.

Mr. Fernandopulle was an outspoken politician with exceptional attributes of courage, dynamism and drive, a democrat and upholder of human rights, and someone who stood up for the rights of all communities and religious faiths.

His presence will be sorely missed in Sri Lanka's political firmament and especially by his colleagues in Parliament and the people of Katana and the Gampaha District, the Government notes.

His demise will be mourned by all those who espouse democratic values and by all citizens regardless of ethnic identity, religious faith or political conviction. The Government emphasizes that this act of terrorism underscores the importance of eliminating terrorism from the country using all means available and necessary and remains committed to this all important precondition for bringing about peace and restoring democracy in all parts of the country.

The Government, in this moment of sadness offers its deepest condolences to the wife and children of Mr. Fernandopulle and to the families of all those who died in the attack, and calls upon all citizens to exercise utmost vigilance at all times regarding suspicious persons and activity."