Dr. John Gooneratne told the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) that the then government had wanted the CFA to pave the way for talks to find a negotiated solution, prohibit smuggling of arms, ammunition and equipment, ensure freedom of movement for other political parties in LTTE-controlled Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu and prevent forcible conscription, The Island reported today (17).

The UNF government never publicly discussed the issue taking the blame for the one-sided document prepared by Norway in consultation with the LTTE, he said.

Categorizing complaints received by the Nordic truce monitoring mission from Feb 23, 2003 to Dec 31, 2005, Dr. Gooneratne said that the LTTE had got away with the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar on August 12, 2005, the report said.

Responding to a query, Dr. Gooneratne said that the constitutional provision that empowered President Chandrika Kumaratunga to sack the UNF government after one year of its formation for good reason or otherwise had brought pressure on the government. Referring to the then head of the government peace delegation, minister Prof. G. L. Peiris, Dr. Gooneratne recalled how the chief LTTE negotiator Anton Balasingham, when pressed on a particular point, would say "Now professor, suppose I agree to what you are asking of us, can you get it through parliament?"

Veteran diplomat Nanda Godage paid a glowing tribute to President Mahinda Rajapaksa for thwarting an attempt by the West to throw a lifeline to the sinking Tigers. Godage, who had been in the forefront of Sri Lanka’s diplomatic efforts years ago, blamed the UNP and SLFP leaderships for their failure to put aside their differences when the very existence of the country was at stake. He said that nothing could have been as bad as the UNP and the SLFP failing to close ranks even when Jaffna was about to fall or the BIA/Katunayake airbase came under attack because of the enmity and hatred generated by the competition for power. An irate Godage said that with Sri Lankan political parties, country came last, The Island reported.

In his written submissions to the LLRC, Godage explained his thoughts on the causes of the conflict. He blamed both Sinhala and Tamil politicians for seeking political gain at expense of the national unity and reconciliation. He said that the 1972 Republican Constitution and the 1978 Constitution had failed to meet what he called the genuine grievances of the minority communities. He explained that organized attacks on Tamils in 1958, 1961, 1966, 1977, burning of the Jaffna library in 1982 and the anti-Tamil pogrom in 1983 had turned world opinion against Sri Lanka, the report said.