Government says LTTE working on an agenda to disrupt the peace process

Military affairs spokesman minister Keheliya Rambukwella said the EU, which has 25 member countries, took the decision after “long scientific research” on LTTE activities.

“I would like to remind that the Norway has merely repeated the initial response by the LTTE just after the ban,” he told bbcsinhala.com.

We see now that the Sri Lankan monitoring mission will be reduced to half its original capacity in a situation where it's badly needed, and where the work has been more demanding than ever. I would have hoped that the situation would have been different Jon Hansson-Bauer

The Government regrets Norwegian Special Envoy Jon Hansson-Bauer made such remarks on the issue, the minister added.

Bauer told the BBC that the EU ban on the Tigers had damaged the chances of renewed talks, aimed at ending the recent upsurge in violence.

He said the move had only served to harden the Tigers' position.

“We see now that the Sri Lankan monitoring mission will be reduced to half its original capacity in a situation where it's badly needed, and where the work has been more demanding than ever. I would have hoped that the situation would have been different,” Hanssen Bauer told the BBC.

I would like to remind that the Norway has merely repeated the initial response by the LTTE just after the ban Minister Keheliya Rambukwella

However, minister Rambukwella said the Tamil Tigers have violated the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) signed in 2002 by demanding the removal of the EU monitors from Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM).

“The LTTE is focused on disrupting the peace process. This is part of their agenda.”

Assassination of the deputy head of the Government Peace Secretariat shows the real commitment of the LTTE to achieving peace, Rambukwella told BBC Sandeshaya.

Kethesh Loganathan was shot dead in the capital Colombo last week.