The National Joint Committee wants President Chandrika Kumaratunga fast to save Trincomalee from the LTTE. Its secretary Dr. Piyasena Dissanayake said:
"President Chandrika Kumaratunga who appeared to be extraordinarily concerned with national security during the Ranil Wickremesinghe regime, and even went to the extent of dismissing the then Minister of Defence over the latter’s lackadaisical approach to the subject, is now painfully slow in taking steps to prevent the LTTE from laying siege to our strategically vital Trincomalee habour. It is no secret that armed forces chiefs have warned the President about the dangerous situation developing in and around the harbour and that the Tigers, had already opened a string of new camps besides re-opening the old ones in the area."
"Since these developments are taking place strictly in Government controlled territory, they amount to a blatant violation of the Cease Fire Agreement. We know from past experience that complaining to the SLMM is of no use. In these circumstances, the President is under obligation to act expeditiously to save the Port."
"Instead, the President has appointed a Committee, comprising mostly of bureaucrats and none from the Services to "look into the matter". Such a step, apart from being unequal to the urgent and important task in hand, sounds irresponsible to say the least. Obviously, what is called for is an urgent professional approach to the problem by the Services Chiefs with clear cut orders from the President."
