SRI LANKAN BUS BOMB

Early day motion 2386, tabled 16 June 2006 by Andrew Love (Labour). Signed by 45 members.

That this House is appalled at the suicide attack on a bus in the Anuradhapura district of Sri Lanka killing at least 64 people including many children; supports the international community in its condemnation of such attacks and recognition that this is a serious escalation and much more than a ceasefire violation; censures those responsible who should face not only justice but the opprobrium of the international community; welcomes the statement from President Mahinda Rajapakse that he is `seriously committed to peace'; is concerned at the ongoing escalation of violence and flagrant breaches of the Ceasefire Agreement of 2002; urges all parties to the conflict to follow their commitments signed under that Agreement; calls on Norway to use its good offices, as international mediator, to undertake urgent discussions to bring this about and to do everything possible to re-start the ceasefire talks, broken off in April, leading to a resumption of the peace process; and further calls on the British Government to use its influence in Sri Lanka to prevent tit-for-tat retaliation, to help reduce tension leading to a reduction of inter-communal violence and, with the international community, to pressurise both sides to return to the negotiating table to find a political solution to the two decades of conflict on the island.

Signatures by party: Labour 28, Liberal Democrat 11, Conservative 4, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2.