Sri Lanka says economic sanctions no help in fighting terror

June 26, 2008 (LBO) – Economic pressure on Sri Lanka by the international community at a time when the Tamil Tigers are targeting the economy is unhelpful in the struggle against terror, a senior diplomat has said. Foreign Affairs Ministry secretary Palitha Kohona said the Tamil Tigers, consistent with the strategy of other terrorist groups who seek to cripple the economies of target countries, has aimed its sights at the economy of the country.

"It is a strategy which appears to be succeeding to some extent, unfortunately due to the conscious or unwitting acquiescence of certain international players.

"The LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) has attacked major economic targets in the country, and has threatened to continue such attacks," Kohona said.

"Unfortunately, against this obvious background, we also hear talk of trade concessions being withdrawn, development assistance being reduced and harsher economic conditions being imposed by our international partners.

"This approach does not help at a time this country is struggling to maintain its democracy and its democratic institutions in the face of the LTTE's determined efforts to cripple it economically," he said in a public lecture at