The late Trade Minister will be accorded a State funeral. The date is undecided as the family awaits the return of the Ministers two sons from abroad. Published: Thu Jun 8 11:35:37 EDT 2000

The Tamils, including women were taken in for questioning on suspicion they have links with the dreaded Tamil Tiger rebels fighting for a seperate state in Sri Lanka's North.

Meanwhile sources at Moratuwa University revealed that 58 Tamil students from the entire University faculties were also arrested in connection with last afternoon's bomb blast. Published: Thu Jun 8 11:35:38 EDT 2000

The Deputy Minister for Media, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa will head the special parliamentary committee that will serve as watchdog on all media reports detailing proceedings of the House. Published: Thu Jun 8 11:35:38 EDT 2000

The full text of the organisation, the Peace council is given below…

The National Peace Council condemns the assassination of the Minister of Industries C. V.Gooneratne by a suspected LTTE suicide bomber. At least 20 others were killed and over 60 others wounded in the blast that occurred at a procession in Ratmalana, a densely populated suburb of Colombo, on war heroes' day declared by the government.

The assassination of the Guneratne followed the removal of the ban on public meetings and the censorship on foreign journalists by the government. These accompanied the lull in fighting in Jaffna that peaked about a fortnight ago.

The experience of the past 17 years is that the parties to the conflict have harboured a hope that the lull would be to their advantage and their opponent's disadvantage. However, time and again this hope has proved to be an illusion, which has camouflaged plans that have led to inevitable escalation of fighting by both sides. This is manifested in the increase, by leaps and bounds, of military budgets and improved war technologies that both sides employ.

Based on the NPC's interactions with people from different sectors of society, we can assert that people are asking for an honorable negotiated settlement. The warring parties are answerable to the people who wish the war and the killings to cease with a sustainable and just political solution. In this context, the recent statement by Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was significant. He stated that the government would be willing to declare a ceasefire with the LTTE in northern Jaffna provided it is linked to immediate commencement of peace talks that could include political principles, such as the Thimpu principles.

On the other hand, President Kumaratunga's recent assertion that peace talks with the LTTE were not possible at this time may have been based on the government's assessment, whether right or wrong, of the LTTE's own unwillingness to negotiate at this time. This assessment will be further strengthened by the suicide bombing at Ratmalana.

With the exception of a statement by its international representative, Dr Anton Balasingham, the LTTE has consistently stated that the evacuation of government troops from Jaffna would be a pre-condition for negotiations to commence with the government. We call on the LTTE to make their intentions clear that they are prepared for peace talks now and without preconditions which will prevent further blood shed and bring a lasting and just political solution.

What is needed now is an immediate end to killings and to military confrontations and not conflicting messages from the government and LTTE about the possibility of negotiations. Published: Thu Jun 8 10:40:45 EDT 2000

The search was mounted after the country's intelligence agencies tipped off that some LTTE suicide cadres were holed-up in some areas just outside of Colombo. Just a few minutes after the suicide cadre detonated the explosives strapped onto her body killing the minister and 21 others, police took into custody three persons suspected of links with Tamil Tigers, now fighting the government troops in northern Sri Lanka in a bid to create a separate state for 18 per cent minority Tamils.

Gunaratnae known as "puggy and Churchill" was killed just a few hours after he attended a commemoration ceremony at the presidential secretariat at Colombo fort. The assassination sparked a minor volatile situation, but local police clamped down an indefinite curfew to crack down those attempting to create violence.

Military observers described the assassination as "divisionary tactic" of Velupillai Pirabhakaran, who had lost more than 700 of his men in northern Jaffna peninsula since December 11 in the ongoing battles with government forces.

The government made repeated appeals to young unemployed men to join the armed forces of the country in an aim to eradicate the terrorist menace that had been dragging for the past 18 years.

" The response is good", an army official said. Published: Thu Jun 8 04:39:13 EDT 2000

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