"State forces' cease-fire violation would harm govt." -PM

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 March 2002, 21:10 GMT]
"Cease-fire violations by the State armed forces knowingly or not, would cause irreparable harm to the Sri Lankan government," the Prime Minister Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe told soldiers and commanders of the Sri Lanka Army at Palali main base in the Jaffna peninsula Thursday. Mr.Wickremasinghe arrived Jaffna morning by a special Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) helicopter accompanied by Defense Minister Mr.Tilak Marapane and Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Minister Dr.Jayalath Jayawardene.

The Prime Minister appealed to soldiers to refrain from violating conditions of the cease-fire agreement.

"If they violate, it is the government which has to face its repercussion," Mr. Wickremasinghe reiterated.

"If the State security forces refrained from violating the conditions of the cease-fire agreement, it would compel the LTTE also to do the same", Prime Minister said.

The international community has come forward to provide all assistance to make the peace process a success, he stressed.

He made an appeal to all to work with dedication to achieve peace in the country by utilizing this opportunity to end the war.

"We, irrespective of any difference, should arrive at a political solution to the ethnic conflict through the cease-fire agreement now in force. The next phase of the peace process is negotiation," said the Prime Minister.

"My visit to Jaffna three weeks after signing the Cease-fire agreement was to express my gratitude to the members of the three armed forces who have dedicated themselves to safeguarding the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka," said Mr.Wickremasinghe.

The Prime Minister Thursday lunched with the SLA soldiers. Later he visited several army frontlines at Muhamalai. Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe paid homage at the historic Hindu shrine, Nallur Kandasamy temple. He appealed to devotees that peace could be achieved with the assistance of all communities.