Rajapaska disturbed by terrorist attack in Canada

Countries across the globe should unite as equal partners to fight the menace of terrorism, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa said today noting that even countries like Canada are not spared.

Rajapaksa said he was disturbed by the increasing number of terrorist attacks taking place in many countries, the latest one being in Canada.

In a twitter message, he called for countries to unite as equal partners to fight the menace of terrorism.

"Very disturbing to see increasing terrorist acts in many countries, now even Canada. We must unite as equal partners to fight this menace," Rajapasha said.

Canada's Parliament Hill came under attack yesterday when a gunman shot and killed a soldier standing guard at the nearby National War Memorial here, before seizing a car and driving to the doors of building's Centre Block.

Sri Lanka has been critical of Canada's backing for UN Human Rights Council's international investigation on alleged Human Rights abuses on the island.

The LTTE was engaged in an armed conflict with the Sri Lankan forces for nearly-three decades, but were defeated in 2009.

Rajapaksa's government has defied calls to cooperate with the UN investigation into alleged war crimes committed by both the government troops and the LTTE during the last phase of the war.

Canada's criticism of Sri Lanka, Colombo claims was influenced by the powerful pro-Tamil diaspora there. Canada, a leading member of the Commonwealth was absent at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting hosted by Sri Lanka last year.

Stephen Harper, the Canadian Prime Minister, stayed away from attending the Colombo summit citing Sri Lanka's lack of commitment in addressing international concerns over human rights abuses.