President talking to Red Cross representatives at the Presidential Secretariat

[June 06, 2007 - 5.15 GMT]

A joint delegation of the ICRC and the Sri Lanka Red Cross met President Mahinda Rajapaksa at Presidential Secretariat, Colombo yesterday (5) over the abduction and killing of two Red Cross volunteers S. Kandiah and M. Chandramohan, both of Batticaloa by an unidentified group of persons on June 1.

The President assured the Red Cross officials that the government would do everything possible to bring the perpetrators of this crime to book. He has already ordered the Inspector General of Police to conduct a full inquiry.

The President expressed the view that this crime is part of a conspiracy to discredit him and the Government.

Inspector General of Police, Victor Perera and President's Secretary Lalith Weeratunga attended the discussion.