Sri Lankan Cricketers now safe :: Set to return home tonight

by sudharaka | March 2, 2009 at 08:28 pm

1893 views | 82 Recommendations | 32 comments

Latest information from Lahore confirms that the Sri Lankan players are now out of danger and had received minor injuries. Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore for the second Test was attacked upon by terrorists, injuring eight players, though none were seriously wounded. Five Pakistani policemen were killed in the attrack on the Sri Lanka cricket team's bus with rocket launchers, while they were being driven to play. Sri Lanka is the only foreign cricket team to undertake a tour in Pakistan for a while, other teams including from Australia having refused to play citing security concerns.

SL cricket team attacked in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />Lahore
Firing at Liberty market near Gaddafi stadium
Geo TV: 8 policemen killed in firing
Jayawardene, Sangakkara, Mendis injured
Tharanga Paranavitana, Thilan Samaraweera also hurt
12 terrorists involved in attack
Sri Lanka's tour of Pakistan cancelled, team called back

We’re shocked but everyone is OK – Sangakkara "There are a few injuries but everyone is safe and all the players are out of danger,” Kumar Sangakkara had told CNN IBN. "We are shocked, but apart from that everyone is okay. Thilan [Samaraweera] has a shrapnel wound in his leg, but he is fine. [Tharanga] Paranavitana had shrapnel in his chest, but thank God it wasn't very deep and just on the surface. "I had shrapnel injuries in my shoulder, but they have all been removed and I'm okay now. Ajantha [Mendis] had shrapnel in his neck and scalp, but he too has had medical attention and is fine. Everyone else is perfectly all right. "It's very unfortunate that this has happened. Everything had gone on very well until this morning, but it just goes to show that nothing is as it seems. I don't regret coming here to play cricket because that's what we have been doing all our lives. That is our profession. "But I regret this incident, what has happened and the situation that we have had to go through. All we want to do now is to go back home to our families, get back home and be safe." Gamini Lokuge, the Sri Lankan sports minister, said a plane has been chartered to evacuate the cricket team from Lahore on Tuesday. "I don't have all the details, but we are chartering a plane to bring our cricketers home as soon as possible, preferably by tonight," Lokuge told AFP. Officials said earlier they were trying to fly the 25-member team through either Abu Dhabi or Dubai.

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Sri Lanka Army news

at 20:42 on March 2nd, 2009

SEVERAL Sri Lankan cricket players were shot and wounded when their bus came under fire in Lahore, Pakistan today.

Manager Brenden Kurrupu told AFP that up to five or six players were believed to have been wounded.

The shooting took place near the Gaddafi stadium gate when the team was heading for the third day's play in the second Test against Pakistan, he said.

"We are assessing the situation,'' Pakistan cricket board chief Ejaz Butt said.

In Sri Lanka, Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge said two players, Tharanga Paranavitana and Thilan Samaraweera, had been taken to hospital in the city.

Security official Nadeem Sayeed told CNN two buses were attacked.

He said the attackers opened fire with rocket launchers.

Two blasts dispersed traffic before gunmen opening fire from both sides, he said.

He suggested none of the injuries were "very serious".

According to Geo TV reports, quoted on the cricketnext website, four policemen who were part of the security ring for the Sri Lankan players have been killed.

Grenades were also reportedly lobbed at the team bus.

Police and security forces have cordoned off the area.

More to follow..

Source http://www.news.com.au

Ravi Dixit

at 20:45 on March 2nd, 2009

This is disgusting that sports and especially cricket is coming under attack...

Sri Lanka Army news

at 20:49 on March 2nd, 2009

6 Sri Lankan cricketers injured in shootout in Pakistan

6 Sri Lankan cricketers were reported injured in a shootout at Lahore in Pakistan this morning (March 3). According to Pakistan news sources the visiting Sri Lankan cricketers were on their way to the Gaddafi international stadium minutes before the 3nd day of play was about to commence. At least 5 Pakistan policemen were also reported killed during the incident.

defence.lk

Ravi Dixit

at 20:50 on March 2nd, 2009

According to the Pakistan Cricket Board seven players have been reported injured. Four of them are seriously injured - Thilan Samaraweera, Kumar Sangakara, Ajanta Mendis and Tharanga Paranavithana.

The tour has been officially cancelled.

sudharaka

at 21:04 on March 2nd, 2009

Six Lankan cricket players injured in firing in Lahore
NDTV Correspondent
Tuesday, March 03, 2009, (Lahore)

In a firing in area around Liberty Market near Gaddafi stadium in Lahore, Pakistan, six Sri Lankan cricket players have been injured.

Meanwhile, five policemen have been killed in firing between police and unidentified gunmen.

The entire area around Liberty market has been cordoned off.

Sri Lanka Army news

at 22:01 on March 2nd, 2009

Sri Lankan cricketers now safe: shootout at Pakistan [Updated]

6 Sri Lankan cricketers were reported injured including skipper Mahaela Jayawardene, wicketkeeper batsman Kumar Sangakkara and Tilan Samaraweer in a shootout at Lahore in Pakistan this morning (March 3). According to Pakistan news sources, the visiting Sri Lankan cricketers were on their way to the Gaddafi international stadium minutes before commence of the 3rd day's play of the second test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Reports received confirm that seamer Chaminda Vaas, open batsman Tharanga Paranawithana, spin sensation Ajantha Mendis also among the injured including 4th umpire Ashan Raza.

Latest information from Lahore confirms that the Sri Lankan players are now out of danger and had received minor injuries.

At least 5 Pakistan policemen providing security to the Sri Lankan players were reported killed who had valiantly fought with the unidentified gunmen. According to available information, 4 unidentified gunmen who had arrived in a white car had opened indiscriminate small arms and RPG grenade attacks at the bus and the escort vehicles that was transferring the Sri Lankan cricketers to the stadium. Tension prevails in the area with Pakistan security forces and Police engaged in hot-pursuit of the gunmen.

Meanwhile, the Punjab provincial governor making an initial comment to media has said that the attack bears hall marks of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack on 2008.

defence.lk

Sri Lanka Army news

at 21:25 on March 2nd, 2009

Who is behind the Attack ?Probably Pakistan Terrorist Group.I personaly dont think LTTE have done this as they are Cricket Lovers.This type of attack happend after 1972 Munich Olympic.Similar attack happend 2008 targeting Sri Lankan Minister Jeyraj Fernandupullai when he was near a Road Race.

rumana husain

at 21:44 on March 2nd, 2009

this is just terrible terrible!

chanaka

at 21:48 on March 2nd, 2009

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7920272.stm

Above is the footage of the incident.

Rachel Nixon

at 22:46 on March 2nd, 2009

Many thanks for the updates on this important story.

Rachel Nixon

at 23:02 on March 2nd, 2009

You can also follow the latest on this attack using NowPublic's Scan tool.

Paschen

at 23:13 on March 2nd, 2009

Thank you for the post on this.

Ikbal (not verified)

at 23:54 on March 2nd, 2009

Attack Pakistan immediately

sudharaka

at 00:51 on March 3rd, 2009

@ Ikbal > It is the mentality of your type that is responsible for this type of violence.

See below on how mature statesment handle such crisis.

Official response from Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohona

Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohona speaking to news agencies on the Lahore attack said that this incident is unlike to cause restraints between the two countries who also emphasized commitment from the cricketing world to certain the presence of Pakistan as a major player in the game. Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India are all nations that are making stringent efforts to defeat the terrorist outfits in the South Asian region including the LTTE terrorists.

Also, praising the Pakistani security forces for securing the safety of the cricketers, Foreign Secretary Kohona evoked the solidarity shown by both Pakistan and India towards the island nation during the famous 1996 cricket world-cup, when Sri Lanka was blacklisted as an 'unsafe' destination by foreign propagandists.

A Pakistani and a cricket lover (not verified)

at 03:40 on March 3rd, 2009

Sorry to all Srilankans. A real misfortune for Cricket. A real misfortune for Pakistan Cricket, Today every Pakistani is sad for their brothers Srilankan players for we have not been able to protect them. This act must be condemn. Mr. Iqbal must be happy because of his brothers coward act. This was an attempt to demolish friendly ties between Pakistan and Srilanka. Thanks to Srilankan foriegn secretery of states and Srilankan government InshAllah those and these peoples will never succeed.

Hiranya Malwatta

at 05:36 on March 3rd, 2009

We are sorry about the 5 policemen who had to die protecting the cricketers. All over the world, Police and Army alike protect civilians and they are the ones who die for our safety. Yet they are derided way too often. Terrorism MUST BE defeated.

Shail (not verified)

at 03:49 on March 3rd, 2009

Pakistan Terrorist logo ka kuch nahi kar paa raha hai aur INDIA se ladne ki himmat dikhata hai, koi ilaaz hai ki nahi in logo ka WHAT IS MR TEN PERCENT DOING.

shamalee (not verified)

at 05:55 on March 3rd, 2009

We Sri lankans still consider Pakistanis as our friends and we know that this was an attack carried out by an extremist group and that it does not reflect the intentions of the entire nation but that of a group of cowards. We Sri lankans have not forgotten that Pakistan and India stood by our side in 1996 world cup when Aussies told the world that sri lanka is unsafe-and also the great support extended by Pakistani people towards our team during the 1996 finals in Lahore- therefore we have, and still do consider Pakistan as one of our most loyal friendly countries. We Sri Lankans know that it's not easy to stop a guerrilla terror attack as we too have been suffering due to LTTE terrorism, which will be eradicated soon. We're grateful to the Pakistani police force for protecting our national team, and we're deeply sorry for the families of the dead police officers and civilians. We hope to see friendly cricketing encounters between Pakistan and sri lanka in the future too and hope that this horrible incident will not affect the friendship between Pakistanis and sri lankans. Peace!

Barry Artiste

at 06:43 on March 3rd, 2009

Why anyone would attack and kill a sports team defies common sense. But then terrorists certainly lack common sense to begin with.

israeli.agent

at 10:01 on March 3rd, 2009

Barry ,

Remember Munich ?. That is why.

This is a message from the terrorists to the humans.

.Agent.

Amy Judd

at 14:15 on March 3rd, 2009

Thank goodness it wasn't worse than it was..

chanaka

at 01:42 on March 4th, 2009

We were shocked to see the live coverage of this incident and it was terrible. This was done by the extremist groups in the name of terrorist. Somebody really want to blame Pakistan as, it is not a safe place to be. It is Sri Lanka who take the steps to play on Pakistan as trusting the all sources. Yet this unfortunate incident happened and brave 05 Policemen sacrifice there lives to save our team. This is not to point Pakistan or its people, this was well planned and there are lot of hidden benifits from this attack. This cowardly attack was benifited to stranges and countries who want to put Pakistan down. this was not pakistan or its people wish to act.

Well terrorist are same in all places. They does things to fulfill someones wishes which really not benifited to any one. We are almost crushing worlds most dangerous terrorist organization, world should stand as one for a common vission to eradicate this cancer rather pointing out each others or blaming each other.

We all as a Sri lankan never wants to think or act Pakistan is a terror country. We alwasy there with them as friends which we were from the past. Government of Sri Lanka will take needful steps for the matter and that does not going to have any sort of a crack between two countries. This makes more closer to Pakistan rather going away from it. Somebodies plan did not work properly.

chanaka

at 03:44 on March 4th, 2009

ttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7922677.stm

Check the site above. boys back home safely. Thanks for the Driver and the brave Police who sacrifice there lives for them. Everybody should salute them all.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 06:38 on March 4th, 2009

Sorry I'm late here, sudharaka! Thanks for this story!

pakistani (not verified)

at 13:16 on March 4th, 2009

The whole country is sad,I honestly speak from the side of my country and its ppl,if it would have been me or any other civilian who would have been there at tht very moment we would stand in the way of the bullet to save our sri lankan brothers or any other guests of ours from those terrorist.Pakistan is known for keeping its guests happy,even if they r indians after all tht we went through we still love our neighbours,

"and LAHOREE of all places in pakistan!!!!!IS KNOWN FOR ITS HOSPITALITY"

and it brings tears to my eyes tht our guests got injured,and 8 police men died.Our people loved the team so much tht even our families cried.........

what ever happened was pre planned and totally schemed,bcauz in the last moments the route was blocked and changd by security officials as they usually do but still ....

Our whole country salutes the the dead policemen ,srilankan public and the injured for their bravery courage and the thing sri lanka is known for their frendliness!!!

israeli.agent

at 22:34 on March 4th, 2009

"if it would have been me or any other civilian who would have been there at tht very moment we would stand in the way of the bullet to save our sri lankan brothers or any other guests of ours from those terrorist.Pakistan is known for keeping its guests happy,even if they r indians after all tht we went through we still love our neighbours."

That is absolutely true. Common Pakistanis have nothing to do with Jihad or fight againt Kaffirs or Terrorism. Only some misleaded soulless ones travel in this wrong path. It is unfortunate for the Pakistani citizen that they are unable to do anything against this because of the unholy alliance between ISI, Army and the terrorist organisations. Maybe a day come when Pakistanis along with the rest of the world become free from this menace called terrorism.
.Agent.

chanaka

at 00:07 on March 5th, 2009

You are very true Agent. People should now stand against all. Then there is no place for terrorist to play what they want. Same what is happened to LTTE. early they were taking all the support from the people forcefully and willingly. But now people are not want to be there side as they know what was really happened to them and what they have done to them. down falls start now. I wish people of Pakistan should unite for these causes. Then no body can play there life.

Tamiya

at 08:45 on March 31st, 2009

The Sri Lankan team attacked in Lahore incident is uncalled for.

What happened to the team is terrible, but jumping to use the event to tarnish a humanitarian catastrophy being carried out by the Sri Lankan Government is a true tragedy of over 300,000 Tamils civilians.

I really don't understand why the Foreign Tamils protests have anything to do with the incident? Tamils are asking the Sri Lankan Government to sit down for peace talks with LTTE as the previous government has done from 2002-2006. There was a possibility reach a interim solution when the Sinhalese extremists majority in Sri Lanka decided and that should not be accomodated and voted for the current government, which started war on human rights and media freedom right away.

Why the author is implying LTTE into the incident?

Seeing how the Sri Lankan news agencies and their Sinhalese extremists are manipulating the story for not for the its real pointless and shameful act, but to manuever the focus to suggest that LTTE would have done without any evidence or possibility (the same sources say that LTTE would be finished within days.)

There is a strong possibility that the Sri Lankan Government has staged this horror to switch focus on its current horrific war on Tamils.

Tamils would have no choice but to contemplate who would have benefited from such incident right now? the answer points right at the Sri Lankan Government.

If the Sri Lankan Government truly believe that the LTTE would have done it, and has no links to this incident, why not call for an international investigation into the incident to find the true culprit?

Did the Sri Lanka Gov't stage the attack on the SL Cricket team?

...

The incident is a shocking event. Many would think the default suspect is a terrorist group in Pakistan. However, the Sri Lankan Government sponsored news agencies immediately hinted that LTTE could have done it.

Consequently, one question does emerge, could the Sri Lankan government have staged a very well orchestrated drama to blame LTTE?

Severity of the incident should not be undermined and the severity is even greater, and should not be ignored, if the event was actually caused by the team's own government for its political gains.

The reasons for the reasonable doubt are as follow:

(1) Sri Lankan Government sponsored sites immediately point fingers at LTTE for the incident without any evidence. Same sites also say the LTTE is contained into a very small area and will be eliminated within few days.

(2) The Sri Lankan government(s) is very well capable of killing Sinhalese for their own benefits.

(3) LTTE would not gain anything by this incident. LTTE has been asking for peace talk; however the Sri Lankan Government has denied peace talks with LTTE in the name of declaring military victory.

(4) The Sri Lankan Government dreadfully wants to eliminate any committed and extensively accepted Tamils’ representatives in Sri Lanka. The benefits will be two fold; (1) the SL government can exploit Tamils in Sri Lanka as they have been for last 60 years, and (2) the SL government can also say there isn’t a widely accepted representative to discuss or provide peace talks for Tamils interests.

(5) There is only government controlled media in Sri Lanka. You can only know what the government wants you to know. Hence any news can be distorted to blame LTTE. The Government of the Rajapaksa brothers has kept out independent media and monitors from Sri Lanka.

However there are few Tamils media in the Internet, such as Tamilnet.com, Puthinam.com and Sankathi.com, who writes more reliable news about the North East regions.

Could the attack on the SL cricket team be a Sri Lankan government orchestrated drama to undermine the current sufferings of Tamils? Who else would benefit from such incident at this time? The situation begs for a reasonable investigation.

Sri Lankan government is very plausible suspect in this incident.

To keep Tamils in silence and to continue to exploit Sri Lanka in the name of war, the current Sri Lankan government would do anything, including killing Sinhalese people too.

Plausible reasons alone do not make one guilty, however they definitely would beg for a proper investigation.

sudharaka

at 08:56 on March 31st, 2009

@ Tamia
You got caught second time round.......

I have my reply recorded there and have predicted that you would come out with this

Whats next? Was the Lahore Attack plot hatched by the Rajapakses too, with a view to distract the international community?

Lame stuff, even by your standards.

Tamiya

at 09:15 on March 31st, 2009

If it is lame, and if you are really here to worry about the Cricket team, why not campaign for a true international investigation into find out who have done this act of violence?

Why are you all so much into implying LTTE into this event than for true justice and for the real value for what happened to the team?

Is not it shameful that Sri Lanka and Sinhalese extremists would not demand for a proper international investigation into the event, because you are so caught up in the blaming and implying game?