Suspected Tiger suicide attack at Anuradhapura, in Sri Lanka, killed 27 persons and injured 80 others on Monday (October 6). The dead included a former army general, Janaka Perera, his wife and a number of provincial politicians.

The suicide blast took place at 8.45 am, outside the office of the United National Party (UNP) in Anuradhapura, where inauguration of the new building of UNP office was being organised. Among the dead were a former army general and also the opposition leader of north-central provincial council, Janaka Perera, his wife and a number of provincial politicians. Dr John Pulle, the UNP manager in Anuradhapura and his wife were also included in the list of victims.


The concerned officials of the Sri Lankan military blamed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for this attack. This Tamil group has been fighting for an independent homeland for the ethnic Tamils, since the last four decades. But, the LTTE is yet to claim responsibility for the attack.

Perera was a retired general of Sri Lankan army, who had fought against the LTTE during his tenure. On September 2008, Perera contested for the post of chief minister of the north-central province, but was unsuccessful. Perera came into the limelight several times, during his tenure. He even criticised the Lankan army’s unplanned approach in handling the war against the LTTE rebels. But he was also responsible for a number of human rights abuses against Tamils in Lanka. After his retirement from the army, Perera served as the high commissioner of Sri Lanka to Australia and ambassador to Indonesia. The UNP accused the government of showing reluctance in providing a stronger security to Perera, despite several requests.