Tuesday, April 24, 2007

orwegian ambassador’s visit to Northeast Sri Lanka cancelled

Apr 23, Colombo: Norwegian Ambassador for Sri Lanka Hans Brattskar today cancelled a trip to Kilinochchi, the capital of the de facto Tamil state run by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The visit meant to create a suitable background to recommence the peace negotiations between the Sri Lanka government and the Tamil rebels was cancelled on the request of the Sri Lanka government on security grounds.

An Embassy spokesman said the government last evening told them it was not advisable to go due to security concerns and that the trip had to be cancelled.

Brattskar was to hold talks with LTTE political wing leader S.P. Thamilchelvan, Peace Secretariat head S. Pulithevan, police chief S. Nadesan and the deputy leader of the political wing S. Thangan.

Earlier the plan was to provide the Norwegian Ambassador with a Sri Lanka Air Force helicopter to fly to Kilinochchi and there onwards he was to travel along the A-9 highway to Kilinochchi in Embassy vehicles.

It is not known when the visit can take place.

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