The former head of SCOPP was Sri Lanka's candidate for the UNSG

Senior diplomat Jayantha Dhanapala's resignation comes just days after the government announced it was unilaterally withdrawing from a ceasefire agreement (CFA) it signed with the rebels in 2002.

Mr. Dhanapala, who was appointed as the Sri Lankan president's peace advisor in December 2005, said he was quitting for personal reasons.

He had also served as head of the government's peace secretariat, which coordinated its efforts with the international team of peace monitors led by Norwegian diplomats.

Mr.Dhanapala continues to be Chairman of the UN University Council and President of the Pugwash Conferences on Science & World Affairs in addition to serving on many Boards in Sri Lanka and abroad Jayantha Dhanapala's statement

That team, the Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission (SLMM), also says it is preparing to leave by the sixteenth of January, when the ceasefire formally ends.

"Mr.Dhanapala continues to be Chairman of the UN University Council and President of the Pugwash Conferences on Science & World Affairs in addition to serving on many Boards in Sri Lanka and abroad," a statment issued on behalf of Mr. dhanapala said.

Mr. Dhanapala was Sri Lanka's official candidte for the post of UN Secretary General.

His candidacy was withdrawn by the Sri Lankan government at a later stage to facilitate the candidature of the South Korean candidate, Ban Ki-Moon.