Norway grants 23,9 million rupees to Muslim Peace Secretariat

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 September 2005, 08:40 GMT]
The Norwegian government has granted 23,9 million Rupees in support to The Peace Secretariat for Muslims (PSM), according to a press release issued by the Norwegian Embassy in Colombo Monday. The PSM will facilitate dialogue and build consensus among Muslim political parties and interest groups, in order to develop a co-ordinated position for Muslims as input to the implementation of the cease-fire agreement and in future peace negotiations, added the press release.

Full text of the press release follows:

THE ROYAL NORWEGIAN EMBASSY
26. SEPTEMBER 2005


Norway grants support to the Peace Secretariat for Muslims

The Norwegian government has granted 23,9 million Rupees in support to The Peace Secretariat for Muslims (PSM). The PSM will facilitate dialogue and build consensus among Muslim political parties and interest groups, in order to develop a co-ordinated position for Muslims as input to the implementation of the cease-fire agreement and in future peace negotiations. The Peace Secretariat for Muslims will also function as a resource centre, and aims to undertake research and develop frameworks for peace building and constitutional questions as well as contribute to capacity buliding among Muslim representatives in connection to the peace process.

“We consider the PSM a positive and constructive initiative for creating a common Muslim platform for promoting Muslim interests in the ongoing peace process in Sri Lanka and we are happy to support it’s important work”, says ambassador Hans Brattskar.