Editors Note. Contrary to earlier reports it is the Deputy Mayor of Ratmalana and NOT the Mayor that was killed with the minister. We have confirmed this with our reporters in Colombo. We sincerely regret the error. More.. Published: Wed Jun 7 11:46:32 EDT 2000

Wednesday's suicide attack came following two weeks of lull in fighting between government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels in northern Jaffna peninsula. "This shows, they are trying to divert the attention of security forces", a military official told Lacnet.

Minister Gunratane was killed when he joined a large crowd of people on a procession as government declared June 7 as war heroes' day. Government declared Wednesday as war heroes' day to seek support from the masses to fight the Tamil Tigers rebels, who had been fighting government forces for the past 18 years.

Investigators said that suicide cadre embraced the minister before detonating the explosives strapped onto his body. Tamil Tigers frequently launched suicide attacks against those who opposed their struggle of creating an independent homeland for minority Tamils.

The attack is fourth of its kind in the commercial city of Sri Lanka. Aftermath of the blast there were reports that some unruly elements were attempting to instigate violence in some areas of Colombo, but heavily armed policemen and troops were immediately detailed to the areas to quell any riots.

Observers pointed out that if any riots would have broken out, it would have led the Tamil Tigers to carry out a massive anti-government campaign in the west. Police said among those killed were artists and supporters of Gunaratnae, who in 1994 urged president Chandrika Kumaratunge to put the country on war footing.

Gunratnae nick named "Churchill" by some sections of the local media was also the minister in-charge Christian religious affairs in the country. Gunaratnae before his death had a long discussions with president Kumaratunge.

The blast occurred just a few hours after, the government held two minutes silence for fallen war heroes. Hundreds of people lined along the streets of Colombo to offer donations in support of government effort to "finish" the ongoing war. Published: Wed Jun 7 09:27:25 EDT 2000

Meanwhile special armed forces teams in a search and cordon operation carried out soon after the bomb attack at Moratuwa, arrested four persons from the Soysapura Flats at Moratuwa allegedly in connection with this afternoon's attack. Published: Wed Jun 7 08:42:31 EDT 2000

The assassination of Minister C V Gooneratne, the Deputy Mayor, for Dehiwela-Mount Lavinia area and others, by an alleged suicide bomber, happened just hours after President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge addressed the nation to commemorate War Hero's Day.

The Minister's wife, is also reported to have been injured in the explosion and is receiving urgent medical attention at the Kalubowila hospital. All other serious casualties are being transferred to the Colombo National Hospital for medical attention.

The Minister had been part of a procession organised to commemorate War Hero's Day. The day's events was sponsored by the Independent Television Network (ITN) and Lakhanda. The Minister was leading a procession collecting funds to be donated towards the war wounded and families of war hero's.

The President meanwhile in her message this morning stated that a political solution was the only way to help bring about peace in Sri Lanka. She reiterated that the government is still keen to talk peace with the LTTE, provided the Tigers are prepared to join a democratic political framework.

The President said the government would provide all forms of relief measures to soldiers serving in Sri Lanka's war stricken North and to all those who have died protecting the territorial integrity of the country. Published: Wed Jun 7 06:08:04 EDT 2000

The minister of industries C.V.Gunaratnae and the mayor of Dehiwela-Mount Lavania Municipal council Jayaratane Perera were killed when they joined a peace procession at Ratmalana. The event was by the government controlled media.

Police said the minister joined the procession at Ramalana and was leading them to the Ratmalana airport for the final ceremonies. Gunaratnae, an outspoken minister of the PA government in 1994 urged president Chandrika Kumaratunge to put the country on war-footing since there were no signs of a peaceful settlement to the 18 years of ongoing civil war between the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and government troops.

The state controlled media made elaborate arrangements to commemorate the war heroes' day. The national ceremony was held under the patronage of president Chandrika Kumaratnuge, who put the country on war-footing on May 3 this year just a few days after Tamil Tigers took control of the country's most valued real estate in northern Jaffna peninsula, the Elephant Pass military complex.

A spokesman for the police headquarters said that blast occurred when the marchers were at the stage of winding up the peace procession from Nugegoda to Ratmalana. However, there were conflicting reports as to how the blast occurred. Eyewitnesses said that it was a suicide attack, while foreign news agencies reported that a locally made bomb was hurled at the minister's party in which at least 25 others were seriously wounded.

The commemoration ceremonies begun with a two minutes silence and the ministry of public affairs ministry ordered all state and private schools to hold a two minutes silence as a measure of encouragement to the soldiers fighting the Tamil Tigers in north and east of Sri Lanka. Published: Wed Jun 7 05:22:16 EDT 2000

Minister Gooneratne today was involved in collecting funds to commemorate War Hero's day. He had begun walking in a procession along the Galle Road from Dehiwela at around 11 a.m. this morning. Published: Wed Jun 7 04:51:45 EDT 2000

Police investigators said that the bomb was thrown at the government minister's party at Golumadhu junction at local time 13.30pm, just half an hour before,schools in the area were closed. Published: Wed Jun 7 04:35:40 EDT 2000

The Sri Lanka government maintains that the protocol is of utmost important to the Island nation in view of the fact that non state parties fighting for a separate state in the country continue to use children for battle against government troops.

Canada, this morning was among the first to sign the protocol which will be ratified in a period of three months after which its conclusions will be implemented. Ten other countries are expected to sign the protocol. Published: Wed Jun 7 02:34:01 EDT 2000

Following an appeal made by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge, all movement ceased for two minutes at 9.30 a.m. today, silence was observed, while bells in places of religious worship tolled to mark the significance of the moment. Published: Wed Jun 7 02:34:01 EDT 2000

Senior leader Pranab Mukherjee told reporters that the hawkish postures of BJP allies like MDMK and DMK, has created avoidable confusion and Mr Karunanidhi’s statements has complicated matters and evoked sharp reaction from Sri Lanka.He alleged that the goodwill which always existed between New Delhi and Colombo was being “squandered” by NDA government’s “ambivalent and inept handling” of the situation. More... Published: Tue Jun 6 22:52:28 EDT 2000