New Year message of the President
Tuesday, 01 January 2008
The dawn of a New Year is a time for new expectations and resolutions. We hope changes that would occur in this New Year will have a favourable impact on the
lives of all our people.
There is the expectation that we would come closer to overcoming the main problems that face us as a nation. Our foremost wish this New Year is success in the
efforts to defeat terrorism in all its forms, bringing more freedom and democracy to all Sri Lankans; and beginning new processes for the sharing of power within a
single, undivided country, assuring equality to all.
We also look forward to greater economic development that is equitably spread throughout the country to help raise the living standards of our people, which would
take our country to a new threshold of progress, where the fruits of economic growth can be shared by the widest sectors of our society.
I share with you the hope that the New Year will bring peace to our country and build greater understanding and trust among our people; in a society where tolerance
and traditional values that have been the strength of our society for centuries will prevail in the face of new challenges ahead.
I wish you all a happy, prosperous and peaceful New Year.

EPDP killers assassinate six civilians a day in Jaffna where jungle law prevails -Maheshwaran

(LeN, 2008 Jan. 01, 9.20 AM)United National Party (UNP) MP T. Maheswaran says that a group of assassins brought from Colombo kills six civilians each day in Jaffna.Making a statement to 'Lanka-e-News' on abductions, killings and the shortage of essential food items in Jaffna, MP Maheswaran says that the killers are sent fromColombo for one-month service term and they are stationed in EPDP camps guarded by Sri Lanka Army. Maheswaran says that the teams are changed time to time
to hide their identity.Describing his recent five-day visit to Jaffna, Maheswaran said that the people said to him with tears how they suffer under the armed gangs that abduct, kill and rob
people.
He said that people said to him that these killer teams ask for Rs. 5000 ransom and kill people if not paid. Most people do not stay at homes in the nights andspend the nights in safe places, he says.When 'Lanka-e-News' enquired why people do not complain, MP Maheswaran said that they have no one to look into these matters and the complainers are killedtoo.In some occasions, Tamil youths are arrested under false charges if they do not consent to the attempts to abuse them. He said that jungle law prevails in Jaffna.The MP pointed out that essential food is not provided to Jaffna people at least on rations. He is to produce a complete report in this regard to the parliament onJanuary 8. Several names of the killers are also to be revealed. He said that this report would be produced to the international community, especially to India.MP Maheswaran further stated that he was provided 18 member security squad since seven and half years but recently, it was slashed to one ignoring securityconcerns. When 'Lanka-e-News' enquired why he was not given the two police personnel entitled to a MP, he said that although two were given they are on duty onturns.He said that he had no problem about war with LTTE. But he says that the opponents are labeled LTTE to take revenge.
“Govt. responsible for my life”, Maheswaran in final TV interview[01-01-2008 1.46pm]
“My life is increasingly at risk after the reduction of my security from 18 personnel to only one. Even state intelligence has established thatthere are threats to me. Therefore, the government should take full responsibility,” UNP MP T. Maheswaran told the media just three days prior to his murder.
Participating in “Minnel” talk-show of Shakthi TV on December 30th, he had spoken at length on threats to his person.Maheswaran had also severely criticized the government for incidents of abduction, extortion and killing in Jaffna and said an organized 10-member gang sent fromColombo was responsible.A Tamil minister is leading this paramilitary gang, the UNP MP had said, promising to expose all those involved when parliament begins sittings on January 08th.Maheswaran, who was gunned down today (Jan. 01st) at a kovil in Kochchikade, Colombo, escaped an attempt on his life in 2004.Thiagaraja Maheswaran, 42, was a businessman by profession.He was fatally shot by a lone gunman this morning and underwent emergency surgery at the Colombo National Hospital.He died a few moments later.His bodyguard Kumaran Mahendran also died from the incident, while several other people who were gathered at the kovil at the time, sustained injuries.Maheswaran was the third Tamil parliamentarian to be murdered after the present regime assumed office, the other two being TNA’s Joseph Pararajasingham inBatticaloa in 2005 and Nadaraja Raviraj at Narahenpita in November the following year.
Sri Lanka opposition lawmaker assassinated in capitalThe Associated Press Tuesday, January 1, 2008 COLOMBO, Sri Lanka: An opposition lawmaker was assassinated at a New Year's religious service in Sri Lanka's
capital Tuesday. The legislator's party blamed the government for recently reducing his security detail.A gunman opened fire at ethnic Tamil lawmaker Thyagaraja Maheswaran of the opposition United National Party at a Hindu temple in Colombo, police spokesman
N.K. Ilangakoon said.Maheswaran was killed two days after he appeared in a private television interview and blamed government paramilitary troops for a spate of abductions, extortion
schemes and unexplained killings in government-controlled northern Jaffna peninsula. He vowed to reveal the names of those involved when Parliament meets in the
new year.The lawmaker and one other person died of their wounds after they were admitted to Colombo National Hospital, the hospital's medical director Hector
Weerasinghe said. Ten other people were wounded, including the suspected gunman, and were being treated at the hospital, he said.The suspect, an ethnic Tamil from Jaffna, was wounded when Maheswaran's security officials returned fire, Ilangakoon said.UNP's General Secretary Tissa Attanayake held the government responsible for Maheswaran's assassination because it recently reduced the number of security
personnel assigned for his protection to two from 10, after the lawmaker spoke out against the government's alleged misdeeds."The government should take the responsibility for this tragic death. Maheswaran's security was reduced during the last two weeks, making him vulnerable for an
attack of this nature," Attanayake said."He spoke about corruption, malpractices, abductions, unlawful killings and blamed government for not taking effective measures to stop them."President Mahinda Rajapaksa's spokesman Chandrapala Liyanage denied reducing the number of security personnel assigned to Maheswaran and said the lawmaker
was given special protection whenever requested.Hundreds of people have been abducted and killed under shadowy circumstances in restive northern Sri Lanka, where Tamil Tiger rebels are active.Rights groups have accused government forces of conniving with armed groups, a charge the government vehemently denies.Maheswaran survived a similar shooting three years ago while running for general elections.In 2006, Tamil lawmaker Nadarajah Raviraj, another government critic, also was gunned down in Colombo.Lawmaker Mano Ganeshan, a vocal government critic, has fled the country after the government withdrew his security, party official Nalliah Kumaraguruparan said.Maheswaran belonged to the minority Tamil community for whom the separatist Tamil Tigers have been waging a war against government forces since 1983. The
conflict has killed more than 70,000 people.All Tamil militants except the Tamil Tiger group gave up arms in 1987, accepting an India-brokered power-sharing deal. Since then, there has been tension between
different Tamil groups, with the Tigers calling other groups traitors and killing their members.The government has courted these enraged groups and uses them in its campaign against the rebels.Meanwhile, the Defense Ministry said in a statement that clashes between government forces and the rebels across northern Sri Lanka on Monday left 24 rebels
killed.There was no immediate comment from the rebels.

Colombo to annul CFA

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 January 2008, 15:28 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces as well as the Minister of Defence, Mahinda Rajapaksa, has decided to annul the February 2002
Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) with the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE). Sri Lankan Government spokesman Keheliya Rambukwela, has confirmed that a
cabinet decision to withdraw from the CFA has been taken on Wednesday. But, he did not provide a date for the GoSL withdrawal. The February 2002 agreement,
in its paragraph 4.4, specifies that the agreement shall remain in force until notice of termination is given by either Party to the Royal Norwegian Government.
Such notice shall be given fourteen (14) days in advance of the effective date of termination.

Full text of the CFA agreement between the GoSL and the LTTE follows:
AGREEMENT ON A CEASEFIRE BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA AND THE
LIBERATION TIGERS OF TAMIL EELAM
Preamble
The overall objective of the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (hereinafter referred to as the GOSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam (hereinafter referred to as the LTTE) is to find a negotiated solution to the ongoing ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka.
The GOSL and the LTTE (hereinafter referred to as the Parties) recognize the importance of bringing an end to the hostilities and improving the living conditions for
all inhabitants affected by the conflict. Bringing an end to the hostilities is also seen by the Parties as a means of establishing a positive atmosphere in which further
steps towards negotiations on a lasting solution can be taken.

The Parties further recognize that groups that are not directly party to the conflict are also suffering the consequences of it. This is particularly the case as regards the
Muslim population. Therefore, the provisions of this Agreement regarding the security of civilians and their property apply to all inhabitants.
With reference to the above, the Parties have agreed to enter into a ceasefire, refrain from conduct that could undermine the good intentions or violate the spirit of this
Agreement and implement confidence-building measures as indicated in the articles below.
Article 1: Modalities of a ceasefire
The Parties have agreed to implement a ceasefire between their armed forces as follows:
1.1 A jointly agreed ceasefire between the GOSL and the LTTE shall enter into force on such date as is notified by the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs in
accordance with Article 4.2, hereinafter referred to as D-day.
Military operations

1.2 Neither Party shall engage in any offensive military operation. This requires the total cessation of all military action and includes, but is not limited to, such acts as:a) The firing of direct and indirect weapons, armed raids, ambushes, assassinations, abductions, destruction of civilian or military property, sabotage, suicide missions
and activities by deep penetration units;
b) Aerial bombardment;
c) Offensive naval operations.
1.3 The Sri Lankan armed forces shall continue to perform their legitimate task of safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka without engaging in
offensive operations against the LTTE.

Separation of forces
1.4 Where forward defence localities have been established, the GOSL’s armed forces and the LTTE's fighting formations shall hold their ground positions,
maintaining a zone of separation of a minimum of six hundred (600) metres. However, each Party reserves the right of movement within one hundred (100) metres of
its own defence localities, keeping an absolute minimum distance of four hundred (400) metres between them. Where existing positions are closer than four hundred
(400) metres, no such right of movement applies and the Parties agree to ensure the maximum possible distance between their personnel.
1.5 In areas where localities have not been clearly established, the status quo as regards the areas controlled by the GOSL and the LTTE, respectively, on 24
December 2001 shall continue to apply pending such demarcation as is provided in article 1.6.
1.6 The Parties shall provide information to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) regarding defence localities in all areas of contention, cf. Article 3. The
monitoring mission shall assist the Parties in drawing up demarcation lines at the latest by D-day + 30.
1.7 The Parties shall not move munitions, explosives or military equipment into the area controlled by the other Party.
1.8 Tamil paramilitary groups shall be disarmed by the GOSL by D-day + 30 at the latest. The GOSL shall offer to integrate individuals in these units under the
command and disciplinary structure of the GOSL armed forces for service away from the Northern and Eastern Province.


Freedom of movement
1.9 The Parties’ forces shall initially stay in the areas under their respective control, as provided in Article 1.4 and Article 1.5.
1.10 Unarmed GOSL troops shall, as of D- day + 60, be permitted unlimited passage between Jaffna and Vavunyia using the Jaffna-Kandy road (A9). The
modalities are to be worked out by the Parties with the assistance of the SLMM.
1.11 The Parties agree that as of D-day individual combatants shall, on the recommendation of their area commander, be permitted, unarmed and in plain clothes, to
visit family and friends residing in areas under the control of the other Party. Such visits shall be limited to six days every second month, not including the time of travel
by the shortest applicable route. The LTTE shall facilitate the use of the Jaffna-Kandy road for this purpose. The Parties reserve the right to deny entry to specified
military areas.
1.12 The Parties agree that as of D-day individual combatants shall, notwithstanding the two-month restriction, be permitted, unarmed and in plain clothes, to visit
immediate family (i.e. spouses, children, grandparents, parents and siblings) in connection with weddings or funerals. The right to deny entry to specified military areas
applies.

1.13 Fifty (50) unarmed LTTE members shall as of D-day + 30, for the purpose of political work, be permitted freedom of movement in the areas of the North and
the East dominated by the GOSL. Additional 100 unarmed LTTE members shall be permitted freedom of movement as of D-day + 60. As of D-day + 90, all
unarmed LTTE members shall be permitted freedom of movement in the North and the East. The LTTE members shall carry identity papers. The right of the GOSL
to deny entry to specified military areas applies.
Article 2: Measures to restore normalcy
The Parties shall undertake the following confidence-building measures with the aim of restoring normalcy for all inhabitants of Sri Lanka:
2.1 The Parties shall in accordance with international law abstain from hostile acts against the civilian population, including such acts as torture, intimidation, abduction,
extortion and harassment.
2.2 The Parties shall refrain from engaging in activities or propagating ideas that could offend cultural or religious sensitivities. Places of worship (temples, churches,
mosques and other holy sites, etc.) currently held by the forces of either of the Parties shall be vacated by D-day + 30 and made accessible to the public. Places of
worship which are situated in "high security zones" shall be vacated by all armed personnel and maintained in good order by civilian workers, even when they are not
made accessible to the public.

2.3 Beginning on the date on which this Agreement enters into force, school buildings occupied by either Party shall be vacated and returned to their intended use.
This activity shall be completed by D-day + 160 at the latest.
2.4 A schedule indicating the return of all other public buildings to their intended use shall be drawn up by the Parties and published at the latest by D-day + 30.
2.5 The Parties shall review the security measures and the set-up of checkpoints, particularly in densely populated cities and towns, in order to introduce systems that
will prevent harassment of the civilian population. Such systems shall be in place from D-day + 60.
2.6 The Parties agree to ensure the unimpeded flow of non-military goods to and from the LTTE-dominated areas with the exception of certain items as shown in
Annex A. Quantities shall be determined by market demand. The GOSL shall regularly review the matter with the aim of gradually removing any remaining restrictions
on non-military goods.
2.7 In order to facilitate the flow of goods and the movement of civilians, the Parties agree to establish checkpoints on their line of control at such locations as are
specified in Annex B.

2.8 The Parties shall take steps to ensure that the Trincomalee-Habarana road remains open on a 24-hour basis for passenger traffic with effect from D-day + 10.
2.9 The Parties shall facilitate the extension of the rail service on the Batticaloa-line to Welikanda. Repairs and maintenance shall be carried out by the GOSL in order
to extend the service up to Batticaloa.
2.10 The Parties shall open the Kandy-Jaffna road (A9) to non-military traffic of goods and passengers. Specific modalities shall be worked out by the Parties with
the assistance of the Royal Norwegian Government by D-day + 30 at the latest.
2.11 A gradual easing of the fishing restrictions shall take place starting from D-day. As of D-day + 90, all restrictions on day and night fishing shall be removed,
subject to the following exceptions: (i) fishing will not be permitted within an area of 1 nautical mile on either side along the coast and 2 nautical miles seawards from
all security forces camps on the coast; (ii) fishing will not be permitted in harbours or approaches to harbours, bays and estuaries along the coast.
2.12 The Parties agree that search operations and arrests under the Prevention of Terrorism Act shall not take place. Arrests shall be conducted under due process
of law in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Code.
2.13 The Parties agree to provide family members of detainees access to the detainees within D-day + 30.

Article 3: The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission
The Parties have agreed to set up an international monitoring mission to enquire into any instance of violation of the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Both
Parties shall fully cooperate to rectify any matter of conflict caused by their respective sides. The mission shall conduct international verification through on-site
monitoring of the fulfilment of the commitments entered into in this Agreement as follows:
3.1 The name of the monitoring mission shall be the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (hereinafter referred to as the SLMM).
3.2 Subject to acceptance by the Parties, the Royal Norwegian Government (hereinafter referred to as the RNG) shall appoint the Head of the SLMM (hereinafter
referred to as the HoM), who shall be the final authority regarding interpretation of this Agreement.
3.3 The SLMM shall liaise with the Parties and report to the RNG.
3.4 The HoM shall decide the date for the commencement of the SLMM’s operations.

3.5 The SLMM shall be composed of representatives from Nordic countries.
3.6 The SLMM shall establish a headquarters in such place as the HoM finds appropriate. An office shall be established in Colombo and in Vanni in order to liaise
with the GOSL and the LTTE, respectively. The SLMM will maintain a presence in the districts of Jaffna, Mannar, Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Amparai.
3.7 A local monitoring committee shall be established in Jaffna, Mannar, Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Amparai. Each committee shall consist of five
members, two appointed by the GOSL, two by the LTTE and one international monitor appointed by the HoM. The international monitor shall chair the committee.
The GOSL and the LTTE appointees may be selected from among retired judges, public servants, religious leaders or similar leading citizens.
3.8 The committees shall serve the SLMM in an advisory capacity and discuss issues relating to the implementation of this Agreement in their respective districts, with
a view to establishing a common understanding of such issues. In particular, they will seek to resolve any dispute concerning the implementation of this Agreement at
the lowest possible level.
3.9 The Parties shall be responsible for the appropriate protection of and security arrangements for all SLMM members.
3.10 The Parties agree to ensure the freedom of movement of the SLMM members in performing their tasks. The members of the SLMM shall be given immediate
access to areas where violations of the Agreement are alleged to have taken place. The Parties also agree to facilitate the widest possible access to such areas for the
local members of the six above-mentioned committees, cf.
Article 3.7.
3.11 It shall be the responsibility of the SLMM to take immediate action on any complaints made by either Party to the Agreement, and to enquire into and assist the
Parties in the settlement of any dispute that might arise in connection with such complaints.
3.12 With the aim of resolving disputes at the lowest possible level, communication shall be established between commanders of the GOSL armed forces and the
LTTE area leaders to enable them to resolve problems in the conflict zones.
3.13 Guidelines for the operations of the SLMM shall be established in a separate document.
Article 4: Entry into force, amendments and termination of the Agreement
4.1 Each Party shall notify its consent to be bound by this Agreement through a letter to the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs signed by Prime Minister Ranil
Wickremesinghe on behalf of the GOSL and by leader Velupillai Pirabaharan on behalf of the LTTE, respectively. The Agreement shall be initialled by each Party
and enclosed in the above-mentioned letter.

4.2 The Agreement shall enter into force on such date as is notified by the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs.
4.3 This Agreement may be amended and modified by mutual agreement of both Parties. Such amendments shall be notified in writing to the RNG.
4.4 This Agreement shall remain in force until notice of termination is given by either Party to the RNG. Such notice shall be given fourteen (14) days in advance of
the effective date of termination.
ANNEX A
The Parties agree to ensure the flow of non- military goods to and from LTTE dominated areas of the Northern and Eastern Province, as well as unimpeded flow of
such goods to the civilian population in these areas. Non military goods not covered by article 2.6 in the Agreement are listed below:
- Non military arms/ammunition
- Explosives- Remote control devices- Barbed wire- Binoculars/Telescopes- Compasses- Penlight batteries


Diesel, petrol, cement and iron rods will be restricted in accordance with the following procedures and quantities:
- Diesel and petrolThe Government Agents (GA) will register available vehicles; tractors and motorcycles in the LTTE controlled areas. The GA will calculate the required weekly
amount of diesel and petrol based on the following estimate:
Trucks/Buses 250 litre/week4 wheels tractor 310 litre/week
2 wheel tractor 40 litre/weekPetrol vehicle 30 litre/weekMotorcycles 7 litre/weekFishing vessels 400 litre/week
- Cement
Cement required for rehabilitation and reconstruction of Government property; registeret co-operatives; or approved housing projects implemented by the GOSL
and international NGOs and more affluent members of the society; will be brought in directly by relevant institutions under licenses issued by Government Agents. The
GA shall stipulate the monthly quantities permitted for such project based upon planned and reported progress.Cement required for indvidual shops/constructions/house owners/rehabilitation-initiatives will be made available through the co-operations on a commercial basis. The
monthly import for this purpose wil be limited to 5000 bags during the first month and thereafter 10 000 bags/month. Individual sales by the co-operatives will be
registered and limited to 25 bags per household.
- Iron rodsIron rods for building constructions will be brought in to the LTTE controlled areas under licenses issued by the GA.
A monthly reassessment will be made to assess the possibilites of removal of the above restrictions.
ANNEX B

Checkpoints agreed in § 2.7 are as follows:
- Mandur- Paddirupur- Kaludaveli Ferry Point- Anbalantivu Ferry Point
- Mamunai Ferry Point- Vanvunateevu- Santhiveli Boat Point- Black Bridge- Sitandy Boat Point- Kiran bridge
- Kinniyadi Boat Point- Valachenai- Makerni- Mahindapura- Muttur- Ugilankulam
- Omanthai

Ceasefire with LTTE invalid, says Sri Lanka government

B. Muralidhar reddy - The HINDU
Decision comes hours after suspected Tiger attack on Army vehicle


COLOMBO: The Sri Lanka government will treat the Norwegian-brokered 2002 Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) with the LTTE as ‘invalid.’
The decision, taken at a Cabinet meeting, follows the killing of four persons in a claymore mine attack on an Army vehicle by suspected Tiger cadres here. “We have
decided to abrogate the CFA though there is no ban on the LTTE as of now,” well-informed sources told The Hindu.
“The Cabinet has directed the Foreign Minister to convey to the diplomats of various missions that after the senseless violence and over 3,500 violations of the CFA
by the LTTE, the agreement has become a dead letter for the government,” the sources said.
As per the February 2002 agreement, it shall remain in force until the notice of termination is given by either party to the Royal Norwegian government. Such notice
shall be given 14 days in advance of the effective date of termination.
The Cabinet decision came a fortnight after President Mahinda Rajapaksa hinted that his government would be left with no option except reconsidering the CFA and
banning the LTTE if the Tigers did not desist from incidents like the Nugegoda parcel blast of November 28, 2007. The blast in an apparel store on the outskirts of
Colombo killed 19 civilians.
Three days ago, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa advocated abrogation of the CFA and a ban on the LTTE to enable the government to make a “fresh start
to address Tamils’ grievances.”

EPDP Condemns & Blamed LTTE on Assassination of Maheshwaran
(January, 02, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian)

“We are deeply saddened and shocked to hear the assassination of our dear friend Mr. T. Maheshwaran at the dawn
of the New Year when all the people of this country belonging to every community with different faiths were engrossed in religious performances hoping for peace
and harmony to prevail in the ensuing New Year,”according to press statement realsed by the EPDP, a pro-Government Tamil political party.
“It may be that some of his ideas and views are not acceptable to every one of us, but he needs to have the freedom of expression and right to expression. This right
we always have held in high esteem. Even at the time we were involved in the armed struggle, this was our prime concern, and since then we have been consistently
agitating to take it forward,” it’s noted.
“But unfortunately, a situation has arisen in our country to pay least regard to the freedom of expression and right to expression, resorting to silence them by the gun,
and Mr. Maheshwaran has today paid the supreme price for it.
“The Tigers have been in the habit of destroying those refusing to pay them obeisance, criticizing the government and to put the blame on their opponents for such
dastard acts, in the manner of killing two birds with one stone.
In the previous general election Tigers forced out Mr. Maheshwaran from Jaffna on the condition that he should not contest the General Election, but he made it a
point to contest from Colombo District. At this election an attempt to his life was made by the Tigers, but he was fortunate to escape with injuries.
“We strongly condemn these killings; it is necessary that we put a full stop to all the killings forthwith and create an environment where people could move without
fear. Obtaining a political solution to the Tamil Speaking People as well as silencing the freedom of expression can never be attained at gun point. These are lessons
history has instilled in our minds, the party statement added.

Govt to withdraw from Ceasefire Ranil Wijayapala
The Cabinet of Ministers yesterday unanimously decided to withdraw from the Ceasefire Agreement entered with the LTTE in 2002, Government Defence Affairs
Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told the Daily News last night.
The Cabinet has approved the Cabinet memorandum submitted by Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanyaka at the Cabinet meeting yesterday.
The motion has been moved since there was no point in continuing with the Ceasefire Agreement as the LTTE has committed a large number of Ceasefire violations,
the Minister added. "The Government decided to officially withdraw from the Ceasefire Agreement since it is futile to continue with the Ceasefire with no indication
that LTTE is willing to enter the peace path," the Minister said.
The Government took this decision taking into account the number of Ceasefire violations by the LTTE, the Minister added.
"The Ceasefire has been violated by the LTTE more than 10,000 times. The Cabinet decision will be put into practice by using the terms and conditions of the
Ceasefire Agreement itself," the Minister added.
According to sources the Cabinet has entrusted to Prime Minister Wickremanayaka the task of notifying the Norwegian facilitators regarding the Government's
decision to withdraw from the Ceasefire. According to the Agreement, either party should give two weeks notification prior to the withdrawal from the Ceasefire to
the Norwegian facilitators.
Almost six years have lapsed since the signing of the Ceasefire Agreement on February 22, 2002.
The Ceasefire came into effect on February 22, 2002 with then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe signing the controversial Ceasefire Agreement to pursue a
peaceful solution to the North East problem.
Velupillai Prabhakaran signed the agreement on behalf of the LTTE. The peace talks initiated during the UNF regime collapsed after six rounds of talks with LTTE
unilaterally withdrawing from peace talks, violating the Oslo declaration where the two parties decided to settle on a federal solution.
The six rounds of peace were held from September 2002 to March 2003 three times in Thailand and the other three rounds in Norway, Germany and Japan. "The
peace process was again revived after President Mahinda Rajapaksa came to power in 2005 and LTTE the continued its terror acts showing no commitment to the
Ceasefire," Minister Rambukwella added.
However, the Rajapaksa administration strictly adhered to the policy of not compromising on the national security and engaged in pre-emptive measures against terror
activities of the LTTE.
The LTTE commenced terror activities in December 2005 despite attempts by the Rajapaksa administration to pursue a peaceful solution to the problem and 264
Security Forces personnel were killed in these provocative attacks.
The two rounds of talks held in Geneva during the Rajapaksa administration collapsed with the LTTE withdrawing from talks for no apparent reason and continuing
terror activities.
"The Ceasefire was almost abandoned by the LTTE during this period continuing with its terror activities and the decision to officially withdraw from the Ceasefire
was taken considering this aspect," the Minister remarked.
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa in an exclusive interview with the Daily News on Friday said that Government should officially withdraw from the Ceasefire
and ban the LTTE for a fresh approach to the Tamil question. He said the CFA only existed on paper and had become a joke in the eyes of the people.