Tuesday, 13th May 2014
(COLOMBO, Xinhua)
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, on Tuesday, slammed the abduction of over 200 school girls from a Nigerian school which he said has shocked the conscience of the world and invited universal opprobrium.
The President's Office said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in a letter to Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, has said the incident is reminiscent of a particularly ignominious chapter in Sri Lanka's own recent history, when the Tamil Tiger rebels carried out a systematic and forcible recruitment campaign of children to its "Baby Brigade" and coerced them into taking up arms against the government.
"It is almost a month since the terrorist group, Boko Haram abducted over 250 female students from a boarding school in Chibok Town in north-eastern Nigeria, a situation which I have followed with much pain of mind. The Government of Sri Lanka denounces this dastardly act which has shocked the conscience of the world and invited universal opprobrium. Terrorism took away all the rights of the young people in Sri Lanka during that time, and now they have all been restored through the concerted action of my government," President Rajapaksa said.
He also said that Sri Lanka, also as Chair-in-Office of the Commonwealth, stands firmly in solidarity with the government and people of Nigeria, which is a fellow member, in their relentless efforts to secure the safe return of these innocent victims of terror and be reunited with their families.
Rajapaksa said the abduction of girls by the Boko Haram is an abominable act of terrorism, perpetrators of which should not go unpunished. He said the incident clearly demonstrates the urgent need for decisive and concerted efforts by the international community to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
Editor: Mengjie
From : http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2014-05/13/c_133331339.htm
