ISLAMABAD - President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Tuesday strongly condemned the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore. The President directed the concerned authorities to immediately investigate the incident to identify the perpetrators and expose their motives. He further directed them to provide the best possible medical treatment to the injured players and the security persons. President Zardari also paid great tributes to the courage and sense of duty of the policemen who laid down their lives to defend the honourable guests in the terror attack. "The nation is proud of the heroism of the martyred policemen and all those who fought the militants bravely," the President said in a statement issued by Aiwan-e-Sadr on Tuesday. The President also announced Rs 0.5 million as compensation for the heirs of the each martyred policeman in addition to Rs 0.2 million announced by the Governor Punjab. The President said while the people were deeply grieved and shocked over the incident, it was reassuring that the policemen rose to the occasion and laid down their lives to protect the guests. "The policemen have made the nation proud and the sun will shine gloriously on the tombs of these heroes", the President said while adding that the government would honour the families of the martyrs in a befitting manner. The President also recommended to the government that policemen and drivers, who have fought bravely and got injuries, should be promoted to the next rank or grade. The Aiwan-e-Sadr also cancelled the ceremony of presenting credentials by some ambassadors to mourn the incident. The ceremony was scheduled to take place on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has also condemned the terror attack and ordered an immediate enquiry into the matter. He directed the concerned authorities to apprehend the culprits. Later, President Asif Ali Zardari telephoned President of Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa and expressed his condemnation and deep regrets over the attack. President Zardari termed the attack as a conspiracy to undermine the deep political and diplomatic ties between the two friendly countries. The President assured his Sri Lankan counterpart that the incident would be thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators would be taken to task. President Zardari apprised President Rajapaksa about the strict security measures that were taken to ensure the safety of the Sri Lankan team and said the vigilant policemen on duty thwarted the attempt with their lives. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Gilani while condemning the attack termed it a terrorist attack and said the objective was to bring a bad name to Pakistan. He directed the provincial authorities to immediately beef up the security and submit him a report in this regard. He condoled the death of the six security officials who lost their lives in this incident. Later, the Prime Minister also commiserated with Sri Lanka' President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is currently in Kathmandu on an official visit. Talking to him on telephone, Gilani expressed his profound regrets over the unfortunate incident. He said the incident was a well-planned conspiracy meant to create terror and isolate Pakistan's cricket. He also expressed his gratitude to the Sri Lankan team for visiting Pakistan at a time when most of others had refused to do so. He said that the nation would always hold Sri Lanka in high esteem for this friendly gesture. He said our security agencies are in the process of investigating the incident and the Sri Lankan government would be kept posted of their findings. The Prime Minister expressed the confidence that despite this heinous incident, relations between the two countries will move from strength to strength and the sport links will remain intact. The Prime Minister also said Pakistan is determined to root out the menace of terrorism from its soil. Rajapaksa, while condemning the incident said that both the countries were victims of terrorism. He also condoled the death of six Pakistani police personnel and two others in the incident. He thanked the Prime Minister for immediate medical and other assistance provided to the team. He said the Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka would be visiting Pakistan today (Wednesday) to hold meetings with the Pakistani officials. Moreover, the Foreign Office of Pakistan also condemned the terror attack on the Sri Lanka's cricket team and said the perpetrators of the heinous crime would be given exemplary punishment. "The attack was perpetrated by the enemies of Pakistan-Sri Lanka friendship," said the foreign office spokesman, Abdul Basit, in a statement issued here. "Full investigation is being carried out into the attack and the perpetrators of this heinous crime would be given exemplary punishment," he said. He said that a special investigation team had been constituted for that purpose. "The government is making necessary arrangements for the safe return of the cricket team to Sri Lanka and is in touch with Sri Lankan authorities," he said. In a separate statement, Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Lahore and reiterated the government's resolve to bring the perpetrators of the cowardly act to justice. The spokesman of the Foreign Office said Pakistan greatly valued its relations with Sri Lanka. "Our two countries have maintained close, cordial and mutually supportive relationship which is based on mutual trust and interest in preserving regional peace, security and stability," he said. Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sherry Rehman, Minister of State for Information Sumsam Ali Shah Bukhari and Parliamentary Secretary for Information Azeem Daultana have also condemned the attack.