Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister visits Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 12 March 2003, 09:06 GMT]
The Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr. Vidar Helgesen, is visiting Sri Lanka today to hold meetings with the Presidient, Prime Minister and the LTTE leadership. Mr. Vidar Helgesen will after his visit to Sri Lanka travel to Japan to take part in the next session of Peace Talks in Hakone 18-21 March.

The full text of the Norwegian press release follows:

The Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen will visit Sri Lanka 12-16 March.

Mr. Helgesen is scheduled to meet with H.E President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga in the afternoon on March 12 and will meet with the Hon Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Kandy in the evening the same day.

The Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister will travel to Kilinochchi to meet with Mr. Prabakharan and Mr. Balasingham from the LTTE on Thursday March 13.

On Friday March 14 Deputy Foreign Minister Helgesen will visit Moratuwa and take part in the opening of Dale Design Centre. He will also have a meeting with representatives from different civil society groups and he will give a speech at Sri Lanka Institute for Foreign Relations later the same day.

Mr. Helgesen will on Saturday March 15 visit Embilipitiya to get an insight in the rural road need in the Southern Province. He will also visit a Sri Lankan Norwegian joint venture.

The press will be invited to cover Mr. Helgesen's visit to Embilipitya and Moratuwa. Also his speech at Sri Lanka Institute for Foreign Relations will be open for media. More detailed information will follow.

Mr. Vidar Helgesen will after his visit to Sri Lanka travel to Japan to take part in the next session of Peace Talks in Hakone 18-21 March.