KANDY - "The same western powers who once warned that the LTTE, which was one of the strongest that terrorist groups, could not be defeated, are now pressing for a ceasefire at the last minute when the LTTE is facing defeat. This is nothing but a conspiracy of the Western capitalist powers," Plantation Industries Minister D. M. Jayaratne told the media yesterday (28).

Minister Jayaratne, after gifting Rs. 65,000 worth crutches to injured war heroes at the Kandy General Hospital, told the media that there was no necessity for a ceasefire at this moment now that President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the heroic security forces had treated the LTTE terrorists in the manner terrorism should be treated.

"Why are these countries worried about an end to an armed conflict? Peace means no business for the countries producing arms. That is the conspiracy behind the interest in the Sri Lanka government carrying on humanitarian operations in the north," the Minister said.