By Xinhua
Colombo : The Sri Lankan government has reiterated its commitment to a political solution amid Western concerns over its announcement of withdrawal from a troubled ceasefire agreement with the Tamil Tigers.
Government officials Sunday cited Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama as saying that although the government had taken a decision to withdraw from ceasefire, it had not given up plans to introduce a political package as a solution.
Sri Lanka’s donor co-chairs, the US, Japan, Norway and the European Union (EU), said in a statement Saturday that they “urge the Government of Sri Lanka to finalize a politically sustainable devolution plan”.
Bogollagama told a media gathering late Saturday in the central town of Kandy that the government would definitely come up with a political package through the All Party Representatives’ Committee.
The government said on Jan 2 that it would withdraw unilaterally from the Norwegian backed ceasefire with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on Jan 16. The LTTE said it would, on its part, keep on observing the truce fully.
With the fear of escalation of the armed conflict, the co-chairs expressed deep concern about protection of civilians in Sri Lanka, and called for continued monitoring of the human rights situation.
Military leaders have vowed to crush the LTTE by the end of 2008 and “liberate” the north from Tigers control.
The rebels in July of 2007 were evicted from the eastern province by government troops in a major military offensive.