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The Prime Minister had briefed the Cabinet of Ministers regarding the Ceasefire Agreement on two consecutive days, Enterprise Development, Industrial Policy, Investment Promotion and Constitutional Affairs Minister G. L. Peiris says in a statement.

The Minister was responding to a claim by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga that the Cabinet had not been informed of the provisions of the Agreement prior to its signing.

The Minister's statement adds:

"The Government has taken note of a press release by the President's Office on Friday, 22 February on the subject of the cessation of hostilities agreement between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE. According to the President, the Government concluded the cessation of hostilities agreement without informing the Cabinet of Ministers. This is entirely incorrect.

"The Prime Minister briefed the Cabinet about the provisions of the agreement on two consecutive days. On Wednesday, 20 February, at the regular meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers held at 6.00 p.m., the Cabinet approved of the conclusion of the agreement in accordance with the procedure explained and agreed upon. Unfortunately, the President was not present at this meeting of the Cabinet.

"The Prime Minister convened a special meeting of the Cabinet on the following day, Thursday, 21 February, for the specific purpose of considering once again the substance of the proposed agreement. This meeting took place at 8.00 p.m. that evening. The Cabinet, after discussion, endorsed in unequivocal terms the provisions of the agreement as well as the modalities for its adoption.

"Moreover, the Prime Minister, together with several members of the Cabinet, held discussions during the evening of Thursday 21 February on the subject of the cessation of hostilities agreement with members of the Maha Sangha and editors of newspapers.

"The government has itself taken the initiative in providing the fullest opportunity for a debate in Parliament on the agreement. The Leader of the House stated categorically on the floor of Parliament on Thursday that the government would readily agree to any date convenient to the Opposition."

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