No change in the government’s stance to withdraw itself from the ceasefire agreement-Keheliya

Government’s Defense spokesman minister Keheliya Rambukwella says there is no change in the government’s stance to withdraw itself from the ceasefire agreement with the LTTE.
This decision was made after deeply observing the CFA and the series of subsequent incidents during the past 25 years. The Minister said the government hopes to unveil proposals of the all party representative committee by the end of this month. All attempts by various governments to resolve the problem through negotiations with the LTTE during the past 25 years have been proven unsuccessful.
The minister recalled that the LTTE resorted to talks only when the organization was weakened. President Mahinda Rajapakse’s attempts to find a solution to the problem through negotiations were also failed. Minister Rambukwella stressed that the government’s decision to abrogate the CFA is not a declaration of war.
The government is committed to reach a political settlement to the problem by joining hands with democratic Tamil political parties. The Minister stated that a humanitarian operation similar to that of carried out in the eastern province will be conducted to liberate the people in Wanni.
Speaking to media military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said the group of LTTE that set a roadside bomb to a passenger bus in Buttala this morning has killed a civilian in the area.
Another three civilians were also killed in the attack. The Brigadier said the LTTE leader of the Trincomalee South named Arichelvam was killed in an attack by the security forces.