The opposition parties had mixed responses today with regards to the ultimatum issued by the United States State Department. The JVP alleged that the government had signed a secret agreement with the US and therefore was unable stand up to its intimidation while the UNP thought it unnecessary for the US to interfere on accountability issues and that this was a threat from the western block.

“In 2008 the government signed a contract with the US to provide them with military logistics and now they cannot go back on their word. This was an agreement signed behind without consultation with the public in total secret,” JVP leader Somawansa Amerasinghe said. He added that this secret pact was holding the government back from making any strong statement against the US and also allowed the US planes to intrude into Sri Lankan Airspace

Meanwhile the UNP is of the view that the most recent call from the US is a representative threat from the Western bloc. “This is a threat coming not from the US but from the western power bloc including the European Union,” UNP MP Wijedasa Rajapaksa said.

However he noted that it was not for the US to intrude into local matters. “They must understand that we are just coming out of a war and the people have suffered. There is no need for them to stir feelings of the nation again,” he said. He further added that the US was having double standards and impeding on Sri Lanka’s sovereignty. (Dianne Silva)