• President wants efforts ‘redoubled’ to crush terrorism in Sri Lanka
• Govt to pilot SriLankan; Staff, Travel trade wary
• Increased security for Opposition MPs
• Lanka’s $ 500 m Bond issue wins 2 awards
• Pongal bonanza for people
• President meets select business leaders to get ideas to tame inflation, boost economy
• Apparel sector in crisis meeting with Mahinda tomorrow

Editorial: On the highway of death

Political column: Sri Lanka: Final call

The Ex Files : “Public service now a govt. service”

Defence Line: Eelam War IV sans CFA

As I see it: Tamils disturbed by CFA withdrawal

What's Inside

• Passenger demand surges to 18-month high in Nov. says IATA
• Mideast carriers post 18.8 per cent growth
• JKH offers schols for Moratuwa Uni transport and logistics management students
• Indian Minister plays safe, consults PM on new Sethu affidavit
• Developments in the Economy in 2007
• HSBC Global Research’s Checklist for 2008 growth outlook
• SCOPP slams UNP
• Vociferous MPs in Govt. hit list - UNP
• Alien plant invades Mahaweli areas
• Dozen LTTE cadres killed in Jaffna
• Govt. attacks prevent schooling in N&E
• UNP wearing ‘Black’ denounce Govt in House
• Sri Lanka Tourism assures no cause for alarm
• Weerawansa foresees UN peace keepers in SL
• Murali to be felicitated in Parliament today
• Trade Unions unite

SCOPP slams UNP

The government Peace Secretariat yesterday slammed the country’s main opposition, United National Party (UNP) after it expressed concern over the government’s decision to abrogate the controversial Ceasefire Agreement (CFA).

Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP) Secretary General, Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha has, in a statement, said that the Peace Secretariat views with bemusement the statement of the UNP regarding the abrogation of the CFA that former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe signed with the LTTE in 2002.

“It is replete with inaccuracies and illogicalities, which are of a piece perhaps with the whole approach of the UNP to the CFA. But its barefaced attempt through this statement to isolate the Sri Lankan Government from the international community indicates that it still believes continuing betrayal of the nation is its only route back to power,” he said.

The Peace Secretariat Chief also called on the UNP and its leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to refrain from overt and covert attempts to undermine the government’s policy, both internationally and nationally.

“If the UNP can rid itself of the last traces of those who remain unapologetic about the practices of the 80s, it might be in a better position to deal with terrorism. Until then, it should leave policy to the elected government of this country, and refrain from overt and covert attempts to undermine it both internationally and nationally,” Wijesinghe said.

“Now that military intelligence has been rebuilt, now that the Armed Forces are able to perform professionally, UNP logic would demand abrogation of the CFA. However, the government continued for nearly four years after the rejection by the electorate of the UNP to abide by the CFA, under both Presidents Kumaratunga and Rajapaksa, in the hope that the LTTE would return to talks. Given continuing intransigence, and continuing terrorist attacks, given the use made internationally of the CFA when many foreign governments are supporting Sri Lanka by trying to stop terrorist funding, the government has decided finally to call a halt to such abuse. But the opposition can only use this too as an opportunity to suggest to the international community that the government is ‘blood-thirsty and war-mongering,” he added.