June 30, Colombo: Sri Lanka government has decided to close its Peace Secretariat from next month following the military defeat of the LTTE.

The Presidential Secretariat has already informed the Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP) over the government's decision, its sources confirmed.

SCOPP commenced its activities on 06th of February 2002, when the United National Party government, led by the former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe had attempted to resolve the ethnic conflict in North through peace talks with the LTTE.

Last week Sri Lanka government deeply discussed over the necessity of a peace secretariat following the military victory over the LTTE.

The government has not decided yet over the future of the entire staff of the Secretariat, who is working under contract basis. Reportedly the military staff of the Secretariat has already been withdrawn and reassigned to their military posts.

Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha, the current Secretary-General of SCOPP will continue his position as the Secretary of the Ministry of Human Rights and Disaster Management.

The Secretariat was headed by Bernard Goonetilleke (2002-2004), Jayantha Dhanapala (2004-2005) and Dr. Palitha Kohona (2006 - 2007) previously.