By P.K. Balachandran, IANS
Colombo : Sri Lanka Thursday described the assassination of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto as an “appalling crime” which it said should be “condemned in absolute terms”.
“The assassination illustrates the need for the countries of the region to get together to combat the vicious menace of terrorism,” Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona told IANS Thursday.
“Terrorists cannot, and must not, be allowed to play a role in any civilised society. It is sad that the life of a democratic leader has been snuffed out in this way,” he added.
Kohona, however, said that Bhutto’s death would not “directly” affect bilateral relations between Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Sri Lanka has had good relations with all the regimes of Pakistan, civil as well as military. All Pakistani regimes have helped Sri Lanka fight the Tamil Tigers and other Tamil militants with military aid.