Lankan monks regret bomb attack at concert

PTI, Dec 22, 2004

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka -- Expressing regret over the recent bomb attack at Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan's concert here which killed two people and injured 19, Sri Lanka's Buddhist monks on Wednesday blamed extremists for the blast and urged the actor and his troupe not to harbour any "ill feeling" towards the people of the island nation.

In a three-page letter handed over to India's High Commissioner to Colombo Nirupama Rao, the monks said the bombing was the work of extremists.

They said the Buddhists had nothing to do with it although some monks did protest the timing of the 'Temptation 2004' show, which coincided with the death anniversary of a popular monk.

"We accept you as our own brothers and sisters," the monks said in their letter to Khan and his troupe which escaped unhurt in the blast on December 11.

"Please do not harbour any ill feeling towards Sri Lankans."

Police are yet to make a breakthrough in the case although one man was arrested in connection with protests before the concert.