New regulations will not affect CFA

Ranil WIJAYAPALA and Nadira GUNATILLEKE

KOTTE: The introduction of new regulations to combat terrorism will not affect the Ceasefire Agreement and will not be a bar for the LTTE to enter negotiations with the Government, the Government said.

Addressing a special Cabinet press briefing yesterday in Parliament, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake said the introduction of a new set of regulations aims at strengthening existing laws to combat terrorism.

Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera told the media that the word `terrorism' is clearly defined in the new regulations and this will be an incentive for the LTTE to abandon terrorism and to show that they are not within the parameters and definition of terrorism.

The Government is trying its level best to bring back the LTTE to the negotiation table as soon as possible and this step will help to do that. Therefore there is no need for looking at these new regulations in a pessimistic manner, he added.

"We saw what had happened when we banned the LTTE in 1998 after they attacked the Dalada Maligawa. After the ban, the LTTE attacked former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and the Bandaranaike International Airport.

But now the LTTE will try to move out from this definition of "terrorism' and come for peace talks," he added. He said President Mahinda Rajapaksa tolerated the violence of the LTTE more than any other leader.

"The Government tried all methods to bring back the LTTE to the negotiation tables and this (introduction of new regulations) is what we can do now.

This is a more meaningful way of fighting terrorism without banning the LTTE," Minister Samaraweera asserted. The Government will give priority to the development process of uncleared areas and the UN and other organisations will be able to carry out their work without any problem.

The introduction of new regulations will not affect their work or development work in uncleared areas in the North-East.

There will not be any restrictions on journalists, he added. Health Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva said the Government has not closed the doors for peace talks and only taken steps that suit the present situation.

He said only Deputy Inspectors General of Police and senior officials are authorised to implement these regulations.

The Minister also pointed out that these regulations will not affect any trade union acts and also will not be infringe on the immunity given for the diplomatic community to engage in their activities in Sri Lanka.

Defence Affairs Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that there will be no impact at all on the CFA and Norwegian mediation of the peace talks as a result of the introduction of new regulations.

Minister Prof. Tissa Vitharana said the Government hopes the LTTE will abandon terrorist activities and come to the negotiations table after the introduction of these new regulations.

Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said this is the first time in Sri Lankan history that the word `terrorism' has been clearly defined.