Sri Lanka President welcomes Norway's role

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 September 2004, 17:11 GMT]
Sri Lanka's President Chandrika Kumaratunge welcomed Norway's role in the peace process and accused the LTTE of ''indecision over commencement of talks,'' in a press release issued today after discussions with Norwegian Peace Envoy, Eric Solheim at the President's House in Colombo.

The full text of the press release follows:

The President reviewed the recent developments in the Peace Process expressing her deep concern over the LTTE's violations of the Ceasefire Agreement and the delay in the resumption of negotiations between the GOSL and the LTTE, despite the flexibility demonstrated by the GOSL on the matter. She stressed that the LTTE's current indecision over recommencement of talks was unsatisfactory and reiterated the commitment of her Government to the strict adherence of the CFA and the early commencement of talks.

The President expressed her appreciation to the Royal Norwegian Government and its representatives over their role in the Sri Lanka Peace Process, despite the difficulties created by her handful of people opposed to a resumption of talks. She also conveyed to Mr. Solheim that the Government's decision to extend the hours during which the A9 road will be kept open, in order to assist in meeting humanitarian concerns and economic needs of the people in Northern Districts.

Present at today's meeting were Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, Secretary General of the Peace Secretariat Mr. Jayantha Dhanapala and the Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. H. M. G. S. Palihakkara from the GOSL and Ambassador Hans Brattskar and other officials of the Royal Norwegian Government.