Colombo, March 03: Sri Lankan cricket team, which was attacked by unidentified gunmen in Lahore this morning, was air-lifted from the Gaddafi Stadium to the international airport from where they would be flown out of the country as soon as possible.
The shocked Sri Lankan cricket team would be flown out by a special plane to Colombo.
Such an emergency measure was expected after the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajpaksa had made it clear that the players would be brought back to the homeland as soon as possible to ensure their safety and security.
"I condemn this cowardly terrorist attack targeting the Sri Lankan cricket team," Rajapaksa said in a message sent from Nepal, where he is on an official visit- he has now cut short his visit and would be heading back to Colombo.
"The Sri Lankan players had gone to Pakistan as ambassadors of goodwill," he said in the statement released by his office.
Acting Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka Hussein Bhaila, while condemning the dastardly attack on sportspersons, said that, “We are not pointing any fingers at anyone, but are concerned about well being and security of players,” adding “Terrorism does not know boundaries”.
Bhaila also confirmed that two players, Tharanga Paranavitana and Thilan Thushara were hospitalised and the Sri Lankan High Commissioner is rushing to Lahore to take stock of the situation.
Divulging the details, he said that Thilan Samaraweera, who was in great form, was hit in the thigh, while a bullet grazed the chest of another player that was treated in the hospital. Also, six others suffered from cut injuries and were treated in the Gaddafi Stadium itself.
On the future course of action, Bhaila said, “We have to look at conditions, investigations before we take any decision about future tours”. He, however, defended the sending of the team to Pakistan, he said, “We had been given full security and sending the team to tour Pakistan was a joint decision of sports and foreign ministries.” He also reflected that it was about time the international community joined hands to combat the terror menace. The immediate measure also gives credence to the reports that the situation in Lahore is still not under control and that the encounter is still going on between the armed forces and the terrorists.
The terrorists who are thought to be 12 in number, had fled the scene of crime after a brief exchange of fire and efforts to trace them have proved futile despite assurances from the Pak establishment.
There are also reports that two car bombs have been diffused and a huge cache of arms has been recovered from the vicinity of Pakistan’s biggest cricket stadium.
Earlier, The Sri Lankan Sports Minister, Lokuke Gamini, confirmed that six players were injured. The injured players are: Thilan Samaraweera, Tharanga Paranavitana, Kumar Sangakkara, Ajantha Mendis, Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Thushara. Also, Ehsaan Raza, the fourth umpire of the match, who was in the team bus is said to be critical.
No comments:
Post a Comment