Govt ready to review CFA

Ranil Wijayapala

COLOMBO: It is now time to take a decision either to go ahead with the Ceasefire Agreement or to abrogate it considering the number of ceasefire violations taking place under present conditions, Government Defence Affairs Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said yesterday.

Responding to queries from journalists at the weekly security press briefing yesterday in Colombo, the Minister said Government has always held the view that it was ready to have a look at the Ceasefire Agreement under its present context.

"As far as the Government is concerned we are ready to have a look at the Ceasefire Agreement in the present context considering the number of CFA violations reported by the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM)," the Minister pointed out.

However, the Minister said the issue should be discussed by all parties to the Ceasefire Agreement before taking a decision.

"On the part of the Government we have expressed our willingness to discuss it," the Minister pointed out.

The Minister also expressed the Government's displeasure over the comments made by the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission with regard to the activities of the Sri Lanka Air Force.

"The SLMM has no mandate to make any comment about the activities in sea and air since they do not come under the CFA. The statements made by the SLMM on Air Force activities go beyond the mandate of the SLMM," the Minister said.

The Minister said the Government was not ready to compromise national security and would increase the frequencies of the spy missions in the interest of national security. He said the Government has a responsibility to act according in the interest of national security and it had conveyed this message to the SLMM.