At approximately 8:45 PM this evening an unidentified armed group attacked the TRO Batticaloa District Office on Station Road in Batticaloa Town.

The attackers threw grenades into the compound and then entered the compound and began to fire automatic weapons at office staff. For the next 35 minutes the attack continued unabated.

At the time of the attack two (2) TRO Technical Officers and the TRO watcher, Mr. Vellaiuthapillai were in the office. There were also two (2) Officers from the Sri Lanka Police stationed near the office.

It is with immense sadness that TRO must announce that Mr. Vellaiuthapillai, the long serving TRO Batticaloa Watcher, was killed during this attack. TRO condemns this cold-blooded murder of an unarmed man in the employment of a registered Sri Lankan charity.

The two TRO Technical Officers were injured and are being treated at the hospital. One of the police offices was also injured and has been taken to the hospital.

TRO is shocked that this attack has occurred in the heart of the Batticaloa Town where there is a large Sri Lankan military and police presence with numerous police stations, military camps, checkpoints, and patrols. The attack continued for 35 minutes without the military or a significant number of police responding. It is difficult for civilians to travel through Batticaloa at night and TRO is surprised by how easily the attackers escaped.

The previous attack on TRO Batticaloa District Office took place on June 13, 2005 at 8:50 pm and occurred in a similar manner with grenades and automatic weapons fire. The perpetrators of that attack are still at large and there has been no investigation by the authorities.

This is the 4th attack on the TRO Batticaloa District Office since the Ceasefire Agreement between the LTTE and the Government of Sri Lanka. Thus far there have been no arrests for any of the attacks. TRO strongly urges the authorities to fully investigate these instances of terrorism and bring the perpetrators to justice.

TRO is a humanitarian agency that works with the Government of Sri Lanka, the LTTE, International NGOs, UN Agencies, foreign governments, and local NGOs to provide relief, rehabilitation, development and reconstruction to the war and tsunami affected people of the NorthEast.

The TRO family wishes to express the utmost sympathy to the friends and family of Mr. Vellaiuthapillai. Our thoughts are with you.