Lankan team skips Bhutto funeral

Contrary to reports published yesterday no high powered government delegation represented Sri Lanka at the funeral of assassinated former Prime Minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto at Ghari Khuda Baksh in the Sindh Province.

It is reliably learnt that following security warnings from Sri Lanka High Commission in Islamabad and Consul General in Karachi, both Minister Ferial Ashraff and Western Province Governor Alavi Moulana cancelled their visit. They were scheduled to represent Sri Lanka at the request of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Widespread violence by angry mourners paralysed much of Pakistan yesterday and triggered alarm around the world.