Transport issues delay Solheim's meeting with Thamilchelvan

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 December 2004, 06:51 GMT]
The meeting between Norwegian peace envoy Eric Solheim and Liberation Tigers Head of Political Wing, S.P.Thamilchelvan expected to be held in Kilinochchi at 11.30am Wednesday will take place at 2pm, according to LTTE sources in Vanni. Mr Solheim arrived in Anuradhapura this morning in Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) helicopter and is travelling to Kilinochchi from Vavuniya by land, sources in Vanni confirmed.

Sri Lanka Government had previously declined to allow SLAF's helicopters to fly into LTTE controlled areas citing security risks. Late afternoon Colombo reversed this decision and agreed to fly Mr Solheim to Kilinochchi Wednesday morning. Around, 9.30pm Colombo said that Mr Solheim will take the land route due to adverse weather conditions prevailing in Vanni.

Omanthai-Mankulam segement of the A9 has been severely damaged and parts of A9 is submerged in flood waters. Drivers of private busses reaching Kilinochchi from Vavuniya said that driving along the A9 is difficult and in some parts dangerous.