5/7/2007 11:32:56 PM

Defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella has said that the ceasefire monitors had no authority to query about sea or air security operations.

Expressing views on a statement given by the ceasefire monitors to an English daily, Minister Rambukwella said air monitoring will be further enhanced. He pointed that the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) had referred to monitoring by the Sri Lanka Air Force in the Wanni. It should be mentioned that the truce monitors had no authority to talks about this matter. The Ceasefire agreement has made no mention of air and sea as the authority lies in the government. It is also mentioned in the agreement that the government in power had the authority to safeguard the country's sovereignty. Therefore the defence spokesman emphasised that references made to air and sea by the truce monitors exceeds their limits.

Referring to the situation, which prevailed in the British House of Commons on Sri Lanka, the Minister said that the Sri Lankan government was dealing only with the British government. He emphasised that they do not transact with various groups.