Colombo, December 14:

The United Nations today blamed Tamil Tiger rebels for attacking a school last week in eastern Sri Lanka, killing one student and wounding 10.

“The recent mortar attack by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam on a school in Kallar village, which killed one child and wounded 10 schoolchildren, is a grave violation,” a statement quoted Radhika Coomaraswamy, UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, as saying.

The government said three mortar shells fired by the rebels hit the government school of Kallar village of eastern Trincomalee district last week killing a teacher and a student. Two other civilians living near the school also died in the attack.

The rebels have denied involvement and there was no immediate comment from them to the UN statement. According to a teacher, most of the 365 children at the school were playing outside when the attack came and thus escaped unhurt. Coomasawamy said indiscriminate shelling from both government troops and rebels had caused immense suffering for civilians. he said the two sides must work with humanitarian agencies to ensure that civilians are safe.

Some 35,000 Tamils are trapped amid heavy fighting in the rebel-held regions of eastern Batticaloa district, she said.

“The government must take responsibility to secure humanitarian access to the population and the rebels must stop placing its military hardware in civilian areas,” Coomaraswamy said.