LOC19:23
16:23 GMT
PARIS, Jan 8 (KUNA) -- France on Tuesday issued a strong condemnation of
the latest bombing in Sri Lanka that took the life of a government minister.
"France condemns in the firmest manner the attack which cost Sri Lankan
construction minister DM Dassanayake his life," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman
Pascale Andreani said in a statement.
The minister was ambushed while driving as his car was peppered with
shrapnel in the explosion. He did not survive emergency medical aid.
France said it was sending its condolences to the families of the victims
of the bombing, as well as to the Sri Lankan authorities.
Last week, France held talks here with Sri Lankan government
representatives, notably the Human Rights Minister, and expressed concern
about the decision to end the almost eight-year-old ceasefire and also about
the poor state of human rights on the island.
The French government "calls on all involved parties in the crisis "to take
up the link of political dialogue again, with a view to settling this crisis,"
Andreani said. (end)
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KUNA 081923 Jan 08NNNN