SL Human Rights Minister and Foreign diplomats narrowly escape LTTE Mortar attack- Batticaloa [2nd Lead]

A delegation comprising Minister of Disaster Management and Human Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe, US Ambassador Robert O'Blake, Italian Ambassador Prio Mariani, German Ambassador Jurgen Weerth and several other foreign diplomats have narrowly escaped from a fierce Mortar attack launched by the LTTE terrorists this morning. Eleven people including the Italian Ambassador for Sri Lanka suffered injuries in the attack.

The LTTE terrorists have launched a mortar attack targeting the VIP air movement that was carried out by two Air Force helicopters and an aircraft belonging to a private airliner from Colombo to Batticaloa.

The Mortars have started to hit the Webber stadium, STF camp and the Air Force airstrip in Batticaloa around 8:45 a.m. as the aircraft touched down. The air force pilots managed to liftoff the chopper carrying the government officials and the foreign ambassadors and vacated the Webber ground tactically amid the LTTE mortar fire. However, the chopper carrying the foreign ambassadors was slightly hit and few of the passengers suffered slight injuries.

Meanwhile, the fixed wing aircraft carrying four UN officials landed safely to the airstrip despite the mortar attack. The air force personnel at the camp managed to evacuate the foreign diplomats safely. The aircraft belonging to a private air line was slightly damaged.

The injured were rushed for immediate medical attention. Batticaloa Hospital sources said, that the injured included the Italian Ambassador, a school girl, four police personnel, three STF personnel and two airmen.

The delegation however continued with their schedule despite the terror attack. Having obtained the medical treatment all the officials attended a meeting on developing the eastern province and providing humanitarian assistant to the displaced.