International observers are surprised at the attack, given the recent advances that the Sri Lanka army has made, driving the LTTE from their former territories. "It is very significant that the rebels have carried out such an audacious attack when the government say that they are all but finished," opined BBC's Sinhala Editor, Priyath Liyanage. "It confirms what many of us already knew ―the rebels may be experiencing reverses on the battle field but they are not simply just going to disappear."
LTTE stands for Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.