February 23, 2003	Sunday	Zul Hijjah 21, 1423

COLOMBO, Feb 22: The Sri Lankan government organized celebrations on Saturday to mark the first anniversary of the signing of the ceasefire with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), but the Tigers remained silent in protest against what they called Colombo’s indifference to the rehabilitation of people in the war-torn regions.

Undaunted by the massive rally against the ceasefire held on Thursday, the United National Front-led government organized a colourful ceremony at the independence square in Colombo, rivalling independence day celebrations in pageantry.

The ceasefire agreement between the LTTE and the Lankan government was signed on Feb 22 last year, ending 19 years of bloodshed after the LTTE took to arms to fight for a separate Tamil state in the northeast of the country.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his address to the nation, said he was confident of the durability of the peace deal with the LTTE and that a show of restraint was important by the people as well as soldiers for a lasting peace.

President Kumaratunge, addressing a rally, said she would be monitoring the manner in which the ceasefire was being implemented.

Kumaratunge has been constantly accusing the premier of playing into the hands of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, her accusations heightening after a series of events in which the LTTE was accused of violating the ceasefire agreement.