Govt will continue peace effort, battle terror - Defence Spokesman

Rasika Somarathna

With the Ceasefire Agreement becoming history yesterday, the Government reiterated that it would continue its twin policy of pursuing a negotiated political settlement to the ethnic conflict while battling terrorism.

Speaking to the media at the eve of CFA’s official annulment Defence spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that the CFA abrogation did not mean a unilateral declaration of war by the Government.

In fact the Government was totally focused on achieving a peaceful solution in the form of APRC proposals, but there was no purpose in hanging to a CFA which did not serve its intended purpose, Rambukwella said.

While stressing that the Government would continue its humanitarian mission to liberate northern civilians from the clutches of LTTE terror, the Defence spokesman pointed out that despite a CFA in force LTTE butchery continued unabated.

He further noted that contrary to speculation the Government had not taken a hasty decision to abrogate the CFA.

“In fact the conclusion was arrived at after making a thorough scientific assessment of not only the CFA but also other peace efforts prior to that,” Rambukwella remarked.

Despite President Mahinda Rajapaksa pledging to review the CFA in his election manifesto and getting a mandate from the people for it, the Government continued to make repeated efforts clinging onto the CFA in the name of peace.

But despite these efforts the LTTE continued its usual terror tactics attacking military and civilian targets, taking cover behind the CFA forcing the Government to adopt measures to safeguard National security Rambukwella said.

He further noted that the Government would continue to join the rest of the world in defeating terrorism in the name of democracy and humanity.

All parties including Tamil leaders who believe in democracy and humanity were given a chance to voice their opinion at the APRC Rambukwella observed, stressing that this was the way forward in achieving sustainable peace.

Rambukwella stressed that the Government would not relent in efforts to achieve sustainable peace through negotiations. If Prabhakaran raises the white flag even tomorrow the Government was ready to consider it positively in the name of peace.

“But as long as the LTTE continues terror tactics we will continue to target him,” Rambukwella said.