The state of emergency has to be extended because security forces are still engaged in operational activities to prevent the re-emergence of terrorist violence, the government told parliament yesterday.

Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake, moving the motion seeking parliament’s approval to extend the state of emergency for one more month, said the government was duty bound to maintain law and order and ensure that the country is protected from any fresh terrorist threats.

It is the sacred duty of all MPs to extend their support to the government in this regard, he said.

Troops still find hauls of weapons during their search operations even months after the decimation of the LTTE, he pointed out.

Several days ago, he said, Indian authorities had been forced to issue a warning on separatists following an arrest of a couple in Chennai.

He said Indian police found live ammunition and satellite phones in their possession. It was later found that they were LTTE activists. This created a complex situation as the government has to provide security for Lankan refugees on Tamil Nadu. Some pro-LTTE businessmen and their activities were exposed following the arrest, he added.

The Prime Minister said that it was beyond doubt and everyone would agree that the state of emergency had been very helpful in the recent past in defeating terrorism. Citing Sir Winston Churchill, he said "Sometime it is not enough to do our best, we must do what is required".