CFA in danger of collapse, Prof Peiris says

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 08 December 2004, 12:20 GMT]
''The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has demanded that the Norwegian facilitators engaged in the peace process should quit, whereas the President insists that they should continue to be the facilitators. It is evident that contradictions within the Sri Lanka's ruling coalition have reached the highest point...On the peace front, given the amplitude of contradictions within the Government, the ceasefire agreement (CFA) suffers erosion day by day,'' said UNP spokesperson, Prof., G.L. Pieris, M.P. at a media conference held today wednesday the Opposition Leaders's office.

Prof, Pieris further said: ''Sri Lanka's President is not interested in resolving issues of national importance, but concentrates on changing the Constitution, removing the Speaker and converting Parliament into a Constituent Assembly in pursuance of her own political advancement. .

''As our party leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe, declared at the recent 50th annual convention, Ms Kumaratunge is pursuing her own agenda. While the people demand 3 meals a day, she is doing everything possible to remain in power 3 times over. The President will push the country into a crisis when she attempts to change the Constitution.

''The JVP has adddressed the Norwegian Ambassador to terminate Norwegian facilitation of the peace processs in Sri Lanka, charging that Norway is not imparital and heavily biased towards the LTTE, and that JVP has no confidence in Norway. On the other hand, the President is urging Norway to cotinue with the role assigned to them.

''The JVP has made these charges when the President is in charge of the Ministry of Defence. Claiming that the CFA is illegal, JVP has filed action in the Court of Appeal calling for its abrogation. The JVP is a major constituent of the Government and why could it not abrogate the CFA without going to Courts if JVP feels that CFA is inimical to Sri Lanka?

Ms Kumaratunge's government has done little to change the ground situation after levelling charges against the former Government. Has the Manirasakulam camp been removed? Have the camps in the environs of the Trincomalee Harbour been removed? Nothing has been done.

''The Government is riddled with internal contradictions on fundamental questions. The UNP is prepared to co-operate with ther Government on issues of national importance, and we are ready for a dialogue soon. On questions such as electoral reforms, peace process and the economy we are prepared to join hands, but shouldn't the other side respond?" asked Prof Peiris.