CFA, SLMM cease to operate by Jan 16
President Mahinda Rajapaksa's government Thursday
evening informed Norway of its decision to quit the CFA. Foreign
Minister Rohitha Bogollagama handed over the formal document to this
effect to the Norwegian ambassador in Colombo Tore Hathrem. The
government has now issued the mandatory 14 days notice, as per the
agreement, that it was withdrawing from the pact signed in 2002. The
Foreign Ministry has called a press conference for today (Friday) noon
to spell out its position.
A senior Foreign Ministry official said that this
notification was in terms of Article 4:4 of the agreement and would take
effect 14 days from the date of this notice i.e. 16th January 2008.
Accordingly, the Status of Mission Agreement (SOMA) on
the Establishment and the Management of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission
(SLMM) dated 18th March 2002 between the Royal Norwegian Government and
the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka would
also stand terminated with effect from 16th January 2008, he said.
Courtesy : Daily News |
