There is no ceasefire, only fighting: Lankan Army Chief

Colombo, June 4 (UNI) Sri Lanka's Army Commander Lt Gen Sarath Fonseka, who survived serious injuries during an LTTE suicide assassination bid on his life in April last year, said the five-year long Norwegian brokered Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) was ''not functioning'' on the ground due to the ongoing fierce clashes between the government troops and the Tamil Tigers.

''At the moment, the CFA is not functioning, because fighting is going on. There is no ceasefire today, there is fighting,'' the Army Commander said in an interview with the State-run Daily News.

Lt Gen Sarath Fonseka was quoted as saying, ''From the date the Ceasefire Agreement was signed, we tried our best to live with the ceasefire and uphold it. But, when they started attacking us starting from Mavilaru, Sampur and Muhamalai then we cannot think of the Ceasefire Agreement and get attacked and lose our lives and property. We had to counter attack.'' Pointing out that the LTTE was killing the military informants, political opponents and replenishing their arsenal under the cover of the truce, the Army Chief said the government of President Mahindra Rajapakse should lay down ''certain conditions'' to ensure the LTTE does not take advantage during the ceasefire, ''if the ceasefire is to be continued and genuinely adhered to''.

''The Government might lay down some conditions so that the LTTE cannot take advantage like bringing weapons, killing the opponents, consolidating their military defences; they should not do these types of things during ceasefire,'' Gen Fonseka added.

The Army Commander's remarks came amidst the reports of the fresh clashes in the northern Vavuniya district. According to the claims by both sides, at least 30 Sri Lankan soldiers and 52 Tamil Tiger rebels were killed in fierce fighting along the Vavuniya-Mannar border yesterday.

Replying to a question on the LTTE's plan to recapture the Northern Jaffna peninsula, the Army Chief said he was aware of the fact that the Tigers would do everything possible to capture Jaffna and the military was fully prepared to face it.

''I know the LTTE would do everything possible to capture Jaffna.

That will be a major victory for them. If they try again, we are prepared. We will even do better than what we did last time. It will be a disaster for them if they try to attack us,'' Gen Sarath Fonseka warned.

UNI