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by Ranga Jayasuriya

The government yesterday rejected an accusation by the ceasefire monitors of the security forces involvement of extra- judicial killings in the North-East and said that it was surprised by the SLMM statement.

"We categorically deny it. it is an outrageous allegation," Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told the Sunday Observer.

Minister Rambukwella said he was surprised that the statement came a day after the SLMM Chief Ulf Henriccsen met Peace Secretariat Chief Palitha Kohona, where Mr. Henriccsen did not raise the issue. nstead, the SLMM Chief who made observations on his visit to Sampur said the security forces have targeted identified LTTE military positions.

"It seems the SLMM speaks in double tongue," the Minister said. The Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission yesterday in a statement said that, the Government Security Forces have been involved in extra-judicial killings of civilians in the North-East.

This conviction is based on our observation and inquiries on the ground, the SLMM said in the statement. Peace Secretariat Chief Dr. Palitha Kohona said the SLMM remarks are, a serious allegation. " It is little surprising. I don't know how they base their observations, facts are not clear" Dr Kohona said He said the SLMM remarks are clearly a political statement.

"I am not sure whether SLMM should get involved in it," he added. He said the government would come forward with a formal response to the LTTE statement. The SLMM also said in the statement that the air strikes conducted by the government were a violation of

the ceasefire agreement. The Defence Affairs Spokesman, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, however said the coordinated military action was " a deterrent measure in the form of calculated targeting of LTTE military positions".

He said the government would not compromise national security "National security means the security of all Sri Lankan,s of all Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims and their properties. The government will not comprise it," he said. "At the same time, the government pursues peace with utmost commitment," added the Defence Affairs Spokesman.

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