8:46 AM

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.