The Sri Lankan government's withdrawal from the ceasefire agreement is a retrogressive step that has the potential of plunging the country into grievous crisis and exposing the civilian population, particularly in the north-east, into further misery. The government decision will not find favour amongst the people of Sri Lanka, in particular those who live in the Tamil homeland and the plantations, and the international community. The people now face the most dreadful and disgraceful decision by any Sri Lankan government. If war intensifies, "all of us lose" is the general feeling among the ordinary people of the different communities in Sri Lanka.