Minister Senaratne says UNP (Dem. Group) strongly objected the abrogation of CFA and pressed for a political solution

Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, who represented United National Party (UNP) Democratic Wing, said the body agreed that the 13 amendment for the constitution as the best solution.

Even the Sinhala nationalist Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) agreed to establish separate Provincial Councils (PC) for the north and the east, he said.

'Better version'

"A better version" of the 13 amendment, Dr. Senaratne said, will be implemented and elections will be held for the east.

An interim council to be established for the north.

I don't know who will benefit from abrogating the CFA. I don't see any reason for that Dr. Rajitha Senaratne

The 13 amendment provided the way for the establishment of the PCs and the merger of the north and east as a single province.

The north-eastern PC was later dissolved by the President as the then authorities tried to unilaterally declare a separate country for the NE.

No JVP and UNP

The Supreme court recently ruled that the merger of the two provinces was against Sri Lanka's constitution.

	JVP that opposed 13 amendment is currenltly 'a major player in PCs'

President Rajapaksa's major political ally, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the major opposition, UNP, did not take part in the latter parts of the APRC discussions.

Dr. Senaratne said his party categorically opposed the abrogation of the CFA signed with the LTTE.

The signing of CFA, the minister who is a strong critic of UNP leader said, resulted with the reduction of violence.

Abrogating CFA

However, the abrogation was 'unnecessary act', Minister Senaratne said, as the CFA was made 'redundant' by the LTTE.

"I don't know who will benefit from abrogating the CFA. I don't see any reason for that," he said.

Current UNP leader Ranil Wickramasinghe signed the CFA with the LTTE on 22 February 2002.

Dr. Senaratne who was until recently a strong critic of Rajapaksa administration's war strategy accused the LTTE of violating the CFa over 1000 times despite the armed forces 'not reacting to provocations'.