LTTE threat shifted to diplomacy - Prof Peiris

Sandasen MARASINGHE and Irangika RANGE

The LTTE threat against Sri Lanka has only shifted from the field of battle to the field of diplomacy, with attempts of establishing a Transnational Government in exile to continue LTTE propaganda, said External Affairs Minister Professor GL Peiris yesterday.

Stating that the Government has instructed the Sri Lankan ambassadors in relevant countries to take suitable action to handle the situation, the Minister said Sri Lanka was now facing a different type of threat inimical to the interest of the country.

Minister Peiris made this observation in response to a question raised by UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya as to when the Government would lift the State of Emergency.

The Minister said the Government would not continue the Emergency Regulations one moment longer than necessary and stated the Government has scaled down the Emergency Regulations significantly.

He also stated the Government has retained only such provisions of the Emergency Regulations absolutely necessary to counter the vicious propaganda of the pro-LTTE groups against the Government.

He further stated that the Government was not in a position to predict when the Emergency would be lifted. "Although the LTTE is militarily defeated the risk is not over," Minister Peiris said.

He also said that no foreign country has asked us to abolish the Emergency Regulations.