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Journalism of Courage
COLOMBO, DEC 7: Sri Lanka8217;s deputy defence minister on Tuesday asked the parliament to vote to extend the state of national emergency by another month following recent attacks on religious sites by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam LTTE.
Anuruddha Ratwatte cited the attack on a Catholic shrine in Sri Lanka8217;s north, saying the state of emergency should be extended to maintain law and order, public security and preserve public property.
The debate on extension of the state of emergency comes days before the December 21 presidential poll, for which security has been tightened in the capital Colombo and elsewhere in the country.
8220;The inhuman atrocities of LTTE terrorists are prominently seen when one considers how they attacked even religious places,8221; Ratwatte told the parliament.
At least 42 people were killed and 56 wounded in the shell attack on the shrine in Madhu last month. The guerrillas say the military was behind the attack.
The LTTE rebels have been fighting for a separate homeland forminority Tamils in Sri Lanka8217;s north and east since 1983.
The extension of emergency regulations is likely to be passed since the government has the required number of votes in parliament.
