Erik Solheim to visit Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Friday, 15 April 2005, 12:17 GMT]
Mr. Erik Solheim, the Norwegian Special Envoy will visit Sri Lanka 17th - 21st April, the Royal Norwegian Embassy in a press release said Friday. Mr. Solheim will discuss the "possible joint-mechanism for post-tsunami reconstruction" with the LTTE and the Government of Sri Lanka, the press release said.

Full text of the press release from the Royal Norwegian Embassy follows:

15 APRIL 2005

Special Adviser Erik Solheim will make a routine visit to Sri Lanka 17th - 21st April. He will meet with government officials in Colombo and with the LTTE. The discussions with the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE will encompass the possible joint-mechanism for post-tsunami reconstruction and relevant matters with regard to the peace process.

Mr. Solheim plans to go to Puttalam Sunday 17th April to meet with representatives of the displaced Muslim community and to Batticaloa 19th April to get a first-hand impression of the present security situation and post-tsunami challenges. As during all previous visits, Mr. Solheim will meet with political actors, local civil society representatives and representatives of donor countries to get an up-date on the political situation and the post-tsunami reconstruction efforts.