International   

Still for political option: Colombo

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka on Thursday said the decision to withdraw from the 2002 Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) with the LTTE would not affect its quest for a negotiated political settlement to the ethnic conflict even as Norway regretted the decision and expressed concern over the possibility of escalation of violence.

At a news conference here, Information Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said the government did not deviate from arriving at “a negotiated political solution with the consultation of all concerned parties and is always committed to a lasting solution to the ethnic crisis.”

He said the decision was made following a proposal by Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayake. It is based on the premise that the CFA had been violated by the LTTE on many times targeting innocent civilians.

PTI reports:

The government on Thursday officially conveyed to Norway its decision to pull out of the ceasefire agreement with the Tigers.

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama handed a letter to Norwegian Ambassador Tore Hattrem here, saying that the government was withdrawing from the agreement.

The pro-rebel website Tamilnet said the Sri Lankan government decided to abrogate the ceasefire agreement after its defence was rebuilt with abundant foreign monetary and military assistance.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Close race for Democrats, Republicans
Scotland Yard team for Pakistan
Still for political option: Colombo
Neerja Bhanot plane hijackers freed
3 Indian students die in Melbourne fire
Indian team to review security in Afghanistan

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu