Ceasefire Agreement 'legal'
The judiciary in Sri Lanka has ruled that the truce signed with the Tamil Tigers has not violated the country's constitution.
Appeals Court judge S Sri Skandharajah rejected three petitions by two Sinhala nationalist parties seeking an injuction order against the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) signed in February 2002.
The petitions were filed by Peoples Liberation Front (JVP) and Buddhist-monk led Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), a member of President Rajapaksa's coalition.
Tsunami joint mechanism
Judge Skandharajah rejected petitoners argument that Sri Lanka government cannot enter into agreements with separatist Tamil Tigers.
JHU leaders including Minister Champika Ranawaka in the courts (KS Udayakurmar - file photo)
JHU leaders went to courts against CFA and tsunami mechanism
The Supreme Court earleir quashed an attempt by Kumaratunga administration to establish a mechanism with the LTTE in order to rebuild tsunami affected areas.
Judge Skandarajah however observed that Supreme Court has not ruled it illegal to establish pacts with the LTTE.
Hense the CFA could not also be illegal, he ruled.
CFA "a mistake"
He further observed that judiciary has no authority to intervene government's policy decisions such as signing the CFA.
The Norwegian-brokered CFA was signed by the then Prime Minister, Ranil Wickramasinghe, and LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran.
The internationally- hailed agreement was heavily criticised by Sinhala politicians as biased towards LTTE.
In an exclusive interview with the BBC's Roland Buerk, President Rajapaksa described it as "a mistake".
Appeals Court judge S Sri Skandharajah rejected three petitions by two Sinhala nationalist parties seeking an injuction order against the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) signed in February 2002.
The petitions were filed by Peoples Liberation Front (JVP) and Buddhist-monk led Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), a member of President Rajapaksa's coalition.
Tsunami joint mechanism
Judge Skandharajah rejected petitoners argument that Sri Lanka government cannot enter into agreements with separatist Tamil Tigers.
JHU leaders including Minister Champika Ranawaka in the courts (KS Udayakurmar - file photo)
JHU leaders went to courts against CFA and tsunami mechanism
The Supreme Court earleir quashed an attempt by Kumaratunga administration to establish a mechanism with the LTTE in order to rebuild tsunami affected areas.
Judge Skandarajah however observed that Supreme Court has not ruled it illegal to establish pacts with the LTTE.
Hense the CFA could not also be illegal, he ruled.
CFA "a mistake"
He further observed that judiciary has no authority to intervene government's policy decisions such as signing the CFA.
The Norwegian-brokered CFA was signed by the then Prime Minister, Ranil Wickramasinghe, and LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran.
The internationally- hailed agreement was heavily criticised by Sinhala politicians as biased towards LTTE.
In an exclusive interview with the BBC's Roland Buerk, President Rajapaksa described it as "a mistake".
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JVP goes before Supreme Court
[07th March 2007 - 04:00 S.L.T)
As the petition filed by the JVP to get CFA annulled was rejected by the Appeal Court the Political Bureau of the JVP has decided to seek the assistance of Supreme Court.
In a communiqué issued by the Political Bureau of the JVP, it is said that all legal actions would be taken to get the CFA, which would attribute semi diplomatic status to the tiger organization annulled.
According to the Constitution only the President could sign such an agreement and the Prime Minister signing the agreement was illegal states the statement issued by the JVP.
The petition to the Appeal Court was filed in March, 2002 and what the decision given by the Court states is that the petition could not be heard in the Appeal Court and notices couldn’t be issued for respondents.
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