Sri Lankan Parliament on Wednesday extended the state of emergency in the country for another month, apparently giving more time to the government to solve its ethnic problem.
A total of 121 MPs voted in favour of the extension, while 17 MPs opposed. Only the Tamil National Alliance and the Western People's Front, representing ethnic Tamils, opposed the emergency regulations.
Presenting the proposal to the Parliament, a Senior Cabinet Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said a stable government is necessary to solve the country's ethnic problem.
The minister added that steps would be taken to reach a political settlement on the ethnic problem.
The Emergency in Sri Lanka was proclaimed on August 13, 2005 following the assassination of Lakshman Kadirgamar, former Foreign Minister in his residence in Colombo. Since then the emergency is being extended every month with the approval of Parliament.