Solheim to visit Colombo next week

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 May 2004, 12:20 GMT]
Norwegian special peace envoy Mr. Erik Solheim is scheduled to arrive in Colombo on May 24. He is expected to hold talks with the President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge and Prime Minister Mr.Mahinda Rajapakse the same day regarding peace process, Colombo media sources said.

Mr.Solheim would fly to Killinochchi on May 26 to hand over a message from President to the leadership of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, sources said.

Mr.Solheim would hold comprehensive discussion with the LTTE leadership regarding the question of resuming the stalled peace talks while in Kilinochchi. On his return from Kilinochchi Mr.Solheim would meet the President again and would brief her the latest development, sources said.

Colombo political circles speculate that the arrival of Mr.Solheim next week would finalize the date and time of the future peace talks.