SL to decide on fate of Norwegian-brokered truce

Colombo, May 30: The Sri Lankan government today said it would decide on the fate of the Norwegian-brokered Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) with the LTTE in a couple of weeks even as violence between the security forces and Tamil Tigers escalated.

''As far as the CFA is concerned, the ground reality is that it is not operative at the moment. In a couple of weeks we might have announce either way, whether to strengthen it or abrogate it,'' Sri Lanka government's Defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella told reporters here.

''The ground reality does not reflect a serious CFA, although it stands as it is official. There is no secret about it,'' said Rambukwella, who is also the Minister of Foreign Employment, adding that the time had come to review seriously the shortcomings and validity of the truce pact.

The government announcement came after the LTTE carried out two claymore mine attacks targeting military vehicles in the capital city of Colombo during the past week. At least two security force personnel and seven civilians were killed and over 40 people wounded during these attacks.

Condemning the LTTE attacks in Colombo, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said the motive behind these attacks in the South was to create a communal clash.

Mr Rajapaksa, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, instructed the defence authorities to take all possible steps to avert any such attacks in future.

Military spokesman, Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe urged the general public ''to be more vigilant'' on suspicious terrorist movements and support the security forces to avert further deaths and destruction.

Brigadier Samarasinghe, however, said the military operation in the North and the East would continue until the LTTE threats are neutralized.

More than 4,800 people have been killed in violence since December.

UNI