COLOMBO, February 25 (Xinhuanet) -- Sri Lankan Presidential
Secretariat has refuted the statement of government spokesman and
Constitutional Affair Minister G.L. Peiris that the recently
signed ceasefire agreement between the government and separatist
Tamil Tiger rebels was discussed at two cabinet meetings.
   In a press release carried on Monday's official Daily News, the
Presidential Secretariat has described the statement as totally
untrue and misleading.
   The release said that President Chandrika Kumaratunga decided
not to participated at the first cabinet meeting as she had
convinced herself that there were no matters of special importance
to be discussed at this particular cabinet meeting after inquiries.
   As special cabinet meeting cannot be held without the prior
consent of the president, the statement that the ceasefire
agreement was discussed at the second special cabinet meeting is
totally false, the Presidential Secretariat said. 
   Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesighe said on Sunday that Tamil
Tiger rebel leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran signed the ceasefire
agreement earlier than expected and prevented him from giving more
time to the president to examine the final draft of the agreement
before signing it himself.  Enditem