
Government of Sri Lanka retaliates, not reciprocate, LTTE’s humanitarian gesture
An ambulance returning to its base at Nedunkerni hospital (see map) after an emergency delivery of patients to the Puthikkudiyiruppu district hospital was attacked by a Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) deep penetration unit at 11.30 pm on Tuesday, 8 August in Pandarakulam on Nedunkerni-Oddusuddan road in LTTE area. Five people including all three health professionals in the vehicle were killed.
 

On that same day the LTTE opened the Mavilaru sluice gate on humanitarian grounds, although the day before that when attempts were made by the LTTE to open the sluice gate accompanied by the Head of SLMM, GoSL forces fired at the team and they were forced to abandoned their attempt. The claymore attack on the ambulance that killed five people comes on the same day, immediately after the opening of the Mavilaru sluice gate by the LTTE. After opening the gate the LTTE’s expressed hope that the GoSL will reciprocate by allowing humanitarian assistance to the 40,000 people displaced by GoSL’s bombardment of Mutur over the last few days. Even food has so far not reached these 40,000 displaced people. Natural decency demands reciprocity from the GoSL and not block humanitarian assistance to the displaced and not carry out a claymore attack on the health providers. Is the GoSL expressing anger at LTTE’s action of opening the sluice gate? Details of those killed by the claymore attack on the ambulance are, Dr Kathirgamathamby Jeyamalina (age 68, Medical doctor)
Ms Rasalingam Gnanejadva (age 22, Nurse)
Ms Jegananthan Naguleswari (age 37, Nurse)
Also killed were the driver of the ambulance Kasupathy Kopalasundaram (age 54) and Mrs Jeyamalina Ponnammah, wife of the medical doctor.
09 August 2006
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