Colombo:  Unfazed by criticism from its major donors, the Sri Lankan Government yesterday (Nov 22,2006) vowed to resist Tamil Tigers, insisting the international community recognised that Colombo had a right to defend itself when attacked by rebels.

Major aid donors known as "Co-Chairs" met in Washington yesterday and condemned the Colombo government and Tamil rebels alike for human rights abuses and systematic violations of a 2002 ceasefire brokered by Norway.

Diplomats from the US, EU, Japan and Norway issued a statement expressing 'alarm' at the ongoing fighting they said had led to significant loss of life and widespread human rights violations.

However, Sri Lanka's Minister for Policy Planning and government spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said the co-chairs issued no strictures against the government here.

"It was rumoured that the co-chairs were going to come down hard on the Government," Rambukwella said.

"Nothing of the sort happened," he said.

 He insisted the international community recognised that Sri Lanka had a right to defend itself when attacked by Tamil Tiger rebels.

"As long as the terrorists attack, we will respond," Rambukwella said.