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Sri Lankan government has officially informed the Norwegian mediators of its decision to unilaterally withdraw from the Ceasefire Agreement. Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama handed over the formal document to this effect to the Norwegian Ambassador in Colombo, Tore Hathrem. The government has now issued the mandatory 14 days notice, as per the agreement, that it was withdrawing from the MOU signed in 2002. TNA react Commenting on the government decision to withdraw from the ceasefire, R. Sampanthan, the Leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) blamed the Sri Lanka government for not acting responsibly in securing rights of the Tamil people in the country. As a result of this, Tamil people in the country have been displaced and have faced many obstacles in achieving their rights,Sampanthan said. TNA leader says the government has not acted responsibly with the human rights aspects of the ceasefire and added the government is solely responsible for the consequences and called the government to take necessary action. The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said that it is pleased with the government’s decision to withdraw from the CFA but said that it has no intention to join the government at this point of time. "The Tamils of the North need to be liberated from the LTTE and the forces are doing it successfully”, said JVP parliamentarian Vijitha Herath. Selfish Motive The leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), Rauf Hakeem says the government has decided to abrogate the CFA with selfish motives in mind. "In their election campaign abrogation of the CFA was top in the agenda, but it was not done. This sudden decision implies it is a move by the government to stabilize its position by pleasing the JVP", Hakeem said. UNP - no comment United National Party MP, Ravi Karunanayake said that they will not comment as the government has not yet announced its official stand. "The government has not consulted us before taking this decision", Karunanayake added. Allies' demand Colombo based National Peace Council (NPC) says the government had given in to demands by its political allies. "The government's decision follows repeated demands by the JVP and other nationalist parties for the abrogation of the CFA", NPC said.
Addressing the media, Media Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa said on Thursday that the government does not see the point of continuing with the Ceasefire agreement. "We will only talk to the Tamil Tigers if they agree to lay down their arms", Minister Yapa said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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India's frustration with Sri Lanka over Tamils