Senior advisor to President Rajapaksa on peace process resigns

Colombo, Jan 6 (UNI) A top advisor to Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa on the peace process resigned today as the government officially pulled out of the Norwegian-brokered truce deal with the Tamil Tiger rebels.

''Jayantha Dhanapala, who was appointed to the post of Senior Adviser to His Excellency the President on December 1, 2005 has submitted his resignation for personal reasons,'' a statement here said.

His resignation came a couple of days after the Rajakpaksa government gave the mandatory two weeks notice to Norwegian facilitators, formally terminating the February 2002 Ceasefire Agreement with the LTTE.

Mr Dhanapala, a former Ambassador was appointed as the head of the government peace secretariat by former President Chandrika Kumaratunga.

Later he was appointed as senior presidential advisor on the peace process when President Mahinda Rajapaksa was elected to office.

According to the statement, Mr Dhanapala will continue to be the Chairman of the UN University Council and President of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs in addition to serving on many Boards in Sri Lanka and abroad.

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