AMBASSADORS CONDEMN ATTACK ON SRI LANKAN CRICKET TEAM

Ambassadors of Cricket-Playing Nations Call Upon International Community to Help Fight Global Terrorism

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 5, 2009) - In response to Tuesday’s attack in Pakistan of the Sri Lankan cricket team that resulted in the death of up to six policemen and a driver along with several injuries to team members, the Ambassadors to the United States for India (H.E. Ronen Sen), Australia (H.E. Dennis Richardson), New Zealand (H.E. Roy Ferguson), United Kingdom (H.E. Nigel Sheinwald), Bangladesh (H.E. Humayun Kabir), Pakistan (H.E. Husain Haqqani), and Sri Lanka (H.E. Jaliya Wickramasuriya), and representing the West Indies, the Ambassadors for Bahamas (H.E. Cornelius Smith) and Trinidad & Tobago (H.E. Glenda Patricia Morean-Phillip) issued the following joint statement:

“We strongly condemn the cowardly terrorist attack targeting the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore. This first attack on sports persons in South Asia is of great concern since these teams come together in a spirit of sportsmanship, peace, and goodwill.

All of our countries stand together in urging the international community to work together to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and dismantle the safe havens and support to terrorism. The perpetrators of this heinous act must be brought to justice and credible steps taken to dismantle capacities to carry out such acts of terrorism. We are resolved now more than ever to eradicate terrorism.”

Embassy of Sri Lanka
Washington DC
USA

05 March 2009